From frustration to celebration: New Spirit ferry arrives in home port
After years of delays and cost blowouts, Spirit of Tasmania IV has arrived in its home port of Devonport for testing ahead of October sailings.
The Spirit of Tasmania IV, a new ferry designed to replace aging vessels on the Bass Strait route, has arrived in its home port of Devonport for testing. The arrival of the vessel, which will start ferrying passengers across Bass Strait in October, has been met with celebration and pride following years of delays and cost overruns.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff was among the officials welcoming the ship, noting that it marks a new era for tourism and freight in Tasmania. The ferry replacement program, which began in 2018, had a projected budget of $717 million over its original estimate, with most of the overruns coming from the construction of a new berth in Devonport.
Despite the challenges, officials and locals are excited about the potential benefits the new ships will bring to the region. Ferry operator TT-Line's chair, Ken Kanofski, emphasized that the new ferries, including the Spirit IV, are on track to start ferrying passengers in October after undergoing testing. The new ships are expected to enhance Tasmania's connectivity with Victoria, filling the gap left by the closure of the former ferry services run by the Princess of Tasmania and later the Empress of Australia.
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