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How the double-decker CityCat upgrade reached 10 vessels

Brisbane's double-decker CityCat upgrade was declared complete in November 2025 with Mirbarpa II. Here is how the program got there.

Mac MoretonAI generated2 min read2 min left
A river ferry leaving a white wake on the Brisbane River, with city towers on the far bank.
Photo by Michael Marais on Unsplash
In this story
  1. Kurilpa II: the 2022 milestone
  2. Mirbarpa II: the finish line
  3. What the sources don't say

Brisbane's double-decker CityCat upgrade is finished, according to the Lord Mayor. Mirbarpa II entered service in November 2025 as the tenth double-decker vessel delivered under the program, completing the upgraded fleet.

Kurilpa II: the 2022 milestone

In December 2022 the council christened Kurilpa II, described as CityCat 27, with Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett OAM doing the honours. It was built by Aus Ships at Murarrie and its construction, which began in April 2022, involved 30 full-time and 30 contract workers.

The council said $35.6 million had been allocated to continue delivering the double-decker fleet. Passenger upgrades on the vessel included:

  • shaded upper-deck seating for 20 people
  • USB charging
  • table and lounge seating in the main cabin
  • wider main-cabin windows
  • a clear viewing pane below the front-deck handrail, so passengers in mobility devices and children can see out

Council transport chair Ryan Murphy said at the time that "life wouldn't be the same without these iconic vessels on our river."

Mirbarpa II: the finish line

The Lord Mayor's November 2025 release said Mirbarpa II was the tenth double-decker delivered by the Schrinner Council and marked the completion of the upgraded fleet. It shares its name with the first-generation Mirbarpa, launched in 1996. Brisbane Lions AFLW player Jennifer Dunne christened it.

The release said ridership grew from more than 4.1 million passengers in 2023/24 to more than 5.7 million in 2024/25.

What the sources don't say

Neither release says what will happen to the older vessels. A separate Brisbane City Council page says it plans to retire two first-generation CityCats and make them available for sale to accredited operators, without naming the vessels or giving dates. For the origins of those first boats, see The first CityCat.

Fleet figures and service details can change. Check Brisbane City Council's CityCat pages for the current fleet.

Sources: Inside Local Government, 18 December 2022; Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Double-decker CityCat fleet now complete, 25 November 2025.

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