In JANUARY 2020, Kelsian group Limited acquired Transit Systems group, creating australia’s largest integrated land and marine, tourism and public transport business.

Kelsian Group Limited is one of Australia’s premier tourism and transport operators, bringing the nation’s best experiences to the world. With operations across five states and the Northern Territory, it has significant expertise in the Australian tourism industry with a strong track record in promoting and packaging island holiday experiences, lunch and dinner river and harbour cruises, ferry and charter services, adventure tours, single day and extended tours, resort accommodation and more - delivering unique experiences to domestic and international tourists. 

Kelsian successfully listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in November 2021 (ASX:KLS). 

 
 
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Stradbroke Ferries ferry decorated in artwork by local Aboriginal artist
 
 

Prior to the 2020 acquisition, from 2005 through to 2015 Transit Systems Group operated the largest private ferry operation in Australia, with a fleet of 33 vessels providing passenger and vehicular ferry services to Curtis Island (Gladstone, Queensland), Stradbroke Island (Moreton Bay) and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. In November 2015, Transit Systems sold its marine operations to Sealink Travel Group.

Vessel Procurement Expertise

As the owner of all the vessels it operated, Transit Systems has unrivalled vessel procurement expertise.

The fleet procurement program involved the replacement of the ageing propeller powered fleet with Transit Systems’ revolutionary water jet powered "Eco Jet Cruiser" passenger ferries. The Eco Jet Cruisers were the result of extensive research, testing and stakeholder engagement to allow high speed passenger ferry transportation to continue to operate in the environmentally sensitive Moreton Bay Marine Park.

The success of Transit’s Eco Jet Cruiser project led to the development of the Enviro Cat, a 400 passenger, 35 metre catamaran with similar environmental features to the Eco Jet Cruisers. The Enviro Cats have been developed to provide a fast, comfortable, high volume marine passenger transportation service.

 

Infrastructure Development Capability

Transit Systems has a history of developing and owning key transport infrastructure in order to support its operations. In relation to ferries, Transit Systems owned and operated various marine infrastructure assets in Gladstone, Cleveland, Dunwich and on the Southern Moreton Bay islands.

Transit Systems worked with naval architects to designing its marine infrastructure assets to ensure the most effective outcomes were achieved. This reflects the importance Transit Systems places on its supporting infrastructure, understanding that these assets are critical to achieving the most efficient operations, particularly in terms of reliability and safety.