| Type : |
Waterbus |
| Launched : |
1934 |
| Builder : |
Mort's Dock & Engineering Co
Ltd Balmain, NSW |
| Gross weight : |
39 tons |
| Dimensions : |
69.5 x 14.0 x 6.5 (feet) |
| Passenger capacity : |
150 |
| Speed : |
13 knots |
Crane was one of three identical sister ships that were built as Sydney's first "fast ferries". Sydney Ferries Ltd were losing trade to road transport and these vessels were seen as the answer to the competition problem. They were originally designed to operate on the Lane Cove & lower river runs. Faster than anything on the harbour, they proved to be mechanically unsound. World War II saw the three sisters used rarely due to the fact that diesel fuel (that had to be imported) was in scarce supply.
Crane had one known accident when on the 14th of March, 1937 she ran down and sank a fishing launch by the name of Kia-ora. Fortunately there were no injuries.
Crane had her final survey in 1949 and all three sisters were broken up in 1950.