Grey nomads who have been hanging out for the arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries to make trips to the Apple Isle easier, and crossings more available, shouldn’t hold their breaths.
While the two new vessels are nearing completion in Finland, an infrastructure debacle means the berth in Devonport where they can dock is not set to be ready until February 2027, two and a half years later than originally estimated.
The Tasmanian Government is now looking to lease out the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries to a private operator until permanent port infrastructure is built.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that the Tasmanian Government would focus its resources on delivering the permanent berthing infrastructure as soon as possible.
The current Spirit of Tasmania vessels will be replaced … eventually! PIC: Mudassir Ali / Pexels
“This situation we are in is extremely regrettable – but Tasmanians want us to deliver a solution,” he said. “We have said we will sort the Spirits, fix the GBEs (Government Business Enterprises) and back Tasmania’s tourism industry, and that’s what we are doing.”
Minister for Transport, Eric Abetz, said while modifying Berth 1E was investigated in order to bring the vessels to Devonport sooner, a special report had found it would be unsafe.
“Options to modify both Berth 1E and Berth 2E were also investigated but found any modifications would provide limited benefits, cost the taxpayer up to $60 million and would require significant timely and costly compensation and renegotiation of agreements.”
He said that, ultimately, it was decided that any financial investment into Berth 1E and Berth 2E would outweigh the benefits of bringing forward the timeline.
The Government said that, by leasing the vessels in the interim, Tasmanians would directly benefit from the financial returns and avoid the need for vessel storage costs. Should leasing opportunities not prove financially beneficial, it said TT-Line would seek a cost-effective medium-term storage option in Tasmania.
In the 2022-23 financial year, more than 450,000 people crossed the Bass Strait in Spirit of Tasmania vessels.
The two current Spirit of Tasmania vessels were built in 1998. When their replacements eventually do begin service, they will increase passenger capacity from 1,400 to 1,800, bring the number of cabins from 222 to 301, and allow for 40% more passenger and freight vehicles.
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Totally disgraceful debacle – Hell in a Handbasket comes to mind.
This situation is beyond ridiculous! How can the government get it so wrong? To add insult to injury, freight is being given priority over passengers. This needs to stop NOW! The Spirits are supposed to be passenger ferries and part of our national highway. Instead of giving out money to stimulate tourism to a select few who are lucky enough to score them, organise freight to be transferred on the other ships that regularly run back and forth and give priority to passengers. We are being treated as second class citizens. More heads need to roll!
What a stuffup. These ships have been in the works for years, so why didn’t they know about this earlier and have it ready? Ah Eric Abetz is the minister – that explains it. Can they use Bell Bay?
If you have a larger vehicle it can be very difficult/impossible to get on unless you book months ahead. They need much more capacity, particularly the cheaper day sailings (as you don’t need to book a cabin).