Ferry fight heads to court as Kangaroo Island shutdown confirmed
The operator of Kangaroo Island's "lifeline" ferry has launched legal action to get the second of two long-promised new ferries delivered to Australia.
Sealink has taken legal action against Sea Transport SA Pty Ltd, the company contracted to deliver the second of two new ferries to Kangaroo Island, Australia. The chairman of Sealink, surprised by the action, states that Sealink had cancelled the contract when the company was nearly complete in Indonesia. The first new ferry will begin operating later this month, with an older ferry operating alongside it.
The operators of the Kangaroo Island Ferry have initiated legal proceedings to force the delivery of the second ferry, which was initially expected to be in service by early 2025 but arrived in April 2026 due to delays. Sealink had contracted the state government to provide ferry services until at least 2039. The disruption caused by the shutdown and changeover will affect farmers on the island, who are currently moving large volumes of lambs, grain, and other crops to the mainland.
Despite the inconvenience, Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly urges for the new ferry to run 24 hours a day during the limited service period. SA Transport Minister Joe Szakacs demands better performance from Sealink, noting that the company has severely let down both islanders and the government. The legal matter between Sealink and Sea Transport SA Pty Ltd is scheduled to return to the Federal Court on November 13.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
