The Spirit of Tasmania IV during its first sea trial in Finnish waters. Photo: Spirit of Tasmania
The ‘enforced’ stay of a newly-built Tasmanian ferry in Scotland has helped prompt a near-doubling in Devonport-Geelong sailings this summer.
And an offer from New Zealand for a short-term lease (three months) has fallen through.
The Tasmanian Government says its two current Spirit of Tasmania ferries are now expected to carry more than 167,000 passengers from now to May 31, 2025.
The sailing schedule, which has now doubled, could have even more day trips added, says Transport Minister Eric Abetz.
Spirit of Tasmania I and II are scheduled to operate 502 trips, 138 of them day trips, for the next six months, with a night service as well.
The ferry operator’s website says it usually operates 800 sailings a year.
Abetz says that the 167,274 bookings for summer is 3299 more on last year’s figures.
“We know that there has been a general softening of demand across all air and sea routes in recent times, which is what makes these figures particularly welcome,” he says.
He says 78 per cent of bookings are from mainland residents, with 3572 passengers from overseas and the rest from Tasmanians.
Abetz said 65 per cent of vehicles booked over the same period were classified in the ‘standard’ category.
SPIRIT IV
Spirit IV is facing a two-year stay in Leith, Scotland, as efforts are made to charter it.
A new terminal for the ferry is being built at Devonport but is due for completion in 2027.
TT-Lines interim chairman Damian Bugg told Tasmanian Parliament last week that the company is still weighing whether to leave the ferry in Scotland and lease it out, bring it back or use it to bring freight back.
“While we are thinking about it and trying to make the right decision from a company perspective, it is best to leave it somewhere safe and somewhere less caustic from the point of view of the climate than Rauma shipyard, so we’re in Leith,” he explained.
Acting CEO Kim Sayers pointed out that the cost of the vessel’s delivery voyage from Europe was “in the millions”.
Bugge told parliament that the NZ offer was for the temporary replacement of one of its inter-island ferries which is off to Singapore for scheduled dry-dock maintenance.
“Was there an expectation we might get something there? There was. Nothing’s been forthcoming,” he said.
(That NZ ferry, the Kaitaki, is due to sail for Singapore in early August; the 14-day trip includes a refuelling stop in Gladstone, Queensland).
Another ferry, the Spirit V, is being built at Rauma in Finland.
