Exclusive: Heartstopping footage of passengers climbing from a packed Sydney wharf onto a ferry on New Year’s Eve, with the maritime union claiming the dangerous stunt was caused by staffing issues.
The video, obtained by 9News, shows one man jumping from the Balmain East Wharf onto a docking ferry before a group of others follow his lead.
Meanwhile, the deckhand can be seen struggling to get the ramp onto the wharf.
Balmain was busier on January 31 than in previous years as it offered a front-row seat to the first-ever fireworks show on the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
An estimated 30,000 people used the ferries on New Year’s Eve, but Maritime Union of Australia secretary Paul Garrett said a lack of staff and security led to unsafe conditions.
“Cost-cutting just not enough resources, not enough planning, stuffed it up by not thinking the process through,” Garrett said.
“It’s wrong to put the ferry workers in this position, it’s dangerous and it’s unsafe.”
Transport for NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins said they had anticipated bigger crowds on the wharf during New Year’s.
“We did anticipate numbers increasing, what we didn’t really anticipate is people being stupid… this wasn’t the last ferry to nowhere, there were plenty others that night,” Collins said.
The incident has forced Transport for NSW to reassess staff and security measures in the area, specifically for special events.
“We’re going to provide more security in that area, more support for the Transdev staff and certainly we’re reviewing the plans every year,” Collins said.
The union says this wasn’t an isolated event, and more stuff is needed at ferry wharves across the CBD.
“New Year’s Eve needs more staff, but there are other events as well, Vivid’s a prime example of overcrowding,” Garrett said.
