Buses replaced Stockton ferry services after 3.30pm on Friday, according to a notice pinned to the Queens Wharf travel guide on October 24.
Passengers were advised that the last ferry service to Stockton ran at 3.10pm. The last return service was at 3.20pm.
In a brief statement, Newcastle Transport, which operates the ferry, said the outage was due to a staff illness and confirmed that the ferry would restart crossings from 5.22am on Saturday, October 26.
"We encourage customers to allow extra time and check travel alerts. Customer service staff are at Queens Wharf to assist passengers with replacement bus services," a spokesperson said.
"We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience during this time."
The outage follows a recent cut to the service in September after amenities on Queens Wharf that the City of Newcastle had leased for use by the crew during breaks were vandalised amid reports of assaults in the area.
Two daily ferry services in each direction have been cut since September 9 to accommodate extra travel time for staff to access alternative facilities at The Station.
The Queens Wharf building has become a target for antisocial behaviour since it closed to the public in 2020, with reports of multiple random attacks in the area in recent weeks. The staff room was the only part of the Queens Wharf building being used lately.
A fire broke out in the building in April 2020, and some areas continued to operate for several months but closed for good in December of that year.
Ferry staff say the lack of activity and lighting around the building has caused safety issues, including male staff escorting female staff through the area when they need to access the bathroom at night.
They said there were fewer problems when the Queens Wharf building was full of restaurants.
