One of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels has finally arrived in Australia, but it will still be another year before it starts ferrying grey nomads – and other travellers – between the mainland and the Apple Isle.
Spirit of Tasmania IV recently docked in Fremantle in WA, after a six-week journey from the Scottish port of Leith via Gibraltar, the western coast of Africa, South Africa, and Mauritius.
The ABC reports the 212-metre-long ship will now undergo customs and immigration formalities and a crew change, as well as pick up fresh supplies and fuel. It will then make its way to Hobart, where it is expected to dock on August 23.
While in Hobart, the vessel will undergo a final fit-out, including mattresses, tabletops and artworks, while the crew will undertake training.
Spirit of Tasmania IV left Scotland back in June to travel to Australia. PIC: TT-Line
However, issues with its berthing arrangements in Devonport means the new ship will not begin service for many months yet. The ABC reports that new infrastructure there won’t be ready until October next year.
Spirit IV was built in Finland by shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction (RMC). The ship was finished last year but it subsequently spent almost six months berthed in Scotland while the state government investigated whether another company would lease the ship until Devonport was ready to host it.
The ABC reports the second replacement vessel, Spirit of Tasmania V, was handed over to TT-Line at a ceremony in Finland in June.
“Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are generational investments that will ultimately benefit the broader Tasmanian economy and the visitor economy,” TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone said.
It is not yet known when Spirit V will leave Finland and travel to Tasmania.
The new Spirit of Tasmania ships are longer, wider and taller than their predecessors. The new ships will increase the annual passenger capacity on the Bass Strait route by almost 30%, the lane metres for passenger cars and freight by 60%, and the cabin capacity by approximately 35%, while the environmental impact of shipping will be significantly reduced.
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No way, we’ve been to Tasmania once, that was enough.
There’s too much to see on the mainland.
The cost of a return trip on the ferry would pay for most of our fuel for a trip from Melbourne to Darwin. LOL