Brisbane’s first double-decker CityCat has officially launched its first passenger service after Queensland Maritime Museum’s oldest member, 91-year-old Madeline Blyth christened the new vessel today.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said christening and naming a vessel before it goes into service was a long-standing maritime tradition which traditionally ensured good fortune and safe travel.

“Ms Blyth is one of Brisbane’s living treasures with decades of volunteer service and a long connection to travelling on the river, with her father operating tugboats for the Port of Brisbane from 1926,” he said.

“To this day she continues to have a connection with the river and has been involved with the Queensland Maritime Museum for more than 30 years.

“I am so excited to have been able to launch this vessel, Yoogera, an indigenous name for “Breakfast Creek at mouth”, with such important members of our Brisbane community.”

Cr Schrinner said the 27.2 metre, double-storey vessel was the most modern and accessible CityCat to travel on our river.

“Over the past 10 months Yoogera was constructed by a team of experts at local shipbuilder Aus Ships at Murarrie, which created 40 local jobs,” he said.

“This 43-tonne CityCat can carry 170 passengers, has enlarged windows and better visibility for all passengers, dedicated wheelchair spaces and bike racks and of course, the upper deck where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Brisbane River.

“Our new CityCat represents the evolution of river travel and provides a truly breathtaking way for both residents and visitors to get around Brisbane and explore all there is to see and do.

“This is the first of seven double-decker CityCats to be delivered over the next four years as part of Team Schrinner’s commitment to modernise our public transport network and get residents home quicker and safer.

“The double-decker CityCat has been spotted going up and down the Brisbane River the past few weeks as the highly-skilled ferry masters completed their training, but from today passengers will be able to jump on board.

“I encourage everyone to catch a ride and be among the first to experience the 22nd CityCat in our fleet, and the first ever double-decker CityCat.”

Construction on the next double-decker CityCat is expected to start in 2020.