Fate of current Spirit of Tasmania ferries unclear days before final voyages
With their final voyage imminent, the future of ferries Spirit I and II is unclear, with no buyer yet and no local berths available to store them.
The fate of Spirit of Tasmania ferries I and II remains uncertain as their final voyages approach. The Tasmanian government claims talks to sell the vessels are progressing, but opposition parties remain skeptical. The new Spirit IV and V are set to replace the current ferries by the end of the month, leaving questions about the future of I and II.
TT-Line, the state-owned company operating the ferries, confirmed a sale process is underway but declined to disclose details such as potential mooring locations or the associated costs. The Tasmanian government expressed confidence in securing a sale deal for the decommissioned ships, while Labor infrastructure spokesperson Anita Dow questioned the progress of the process.
TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone stated that the ferries will not be moored in Tasmania due to the lack of berths, and that the cost of storing the new ships ranges from $600,000 to $900,000 per month in Scotland and Geelong, respectively. The state's infrastructure and transport minister, Kerry Vincent, acknowledged that the sale talks are progressing well but declined to provide further details.
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