The first of the two Stockton-route ferries set off for a Port Macquarie shipyard on Monday night.

“This is much more than a lick of paint and a spruce-up,” Keolis Downer’s director of corporate affairs Andrew Fletcher said.

“All the internal seating is being replaced and new seats will be added to the back deck so that customers can better enjoy the journey across the harbour.”

Floors, ceilings, windows, lighting and bike racks will also be upgraded, and surfboard racks installed. 

“For the first time, our ferries will have surfboard racks, matching those on the new trams and helping to create a truly multimodal network,” Mr Fletcher said. 

The first ferry will return before the Newcastle 500 in November, while the second will undergo work in 2019. 

“Not only are the vessels Newcastle icons, they are a critical part of the transport network and a popular choice for residents, workers and visitors,” Mr Fletcher said.  

“The refurbishment will certainly improve the customer experience and with the increased frequency of services, we expect the growth in patronage to continue.” 

The Newcastle-Stockton ferry service carries more than 450,000 people each year. Opal card data shows 44,235 overall trips were taken in August. 

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