New Spirit of Tasmania ferries could be rented out: Dean Winter condemns possibility

Two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries could be leased out because of delays to berth upgrades in Devonport preventing the vessels from docking, Labor claims. Here’s the government’s response.

The new TT Line boat Spirit of Tasmania IV in Finland. Picture: Rauma Marine Constructions

Labor has accused the state government of planning to lease out the two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries while awaiting the completion of berth upgrades in Devonport.

Opposition leader Dean Winter asked Premier Jeremy Rockliff to confirm the delivery date of the new vessels would now be July 2026.

Their operation on the Bass Strait route has been pushed back by delays to the construction of berthing facilities, giving rise to speculation they could be docked in Singapore or anchored in the Derwent for a lengthy period before entering service.

The Premier said he would receive a government-commissioned report on the ferries and their berthing on Friday.

Hobart, Tuesday 15th October 2024. Premier Jeremy Rockliff at the Hobart Waterfront. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I will announce next week a way forward for the Spirits. We will always be on team Tasmania’s side,” he said.

“The Leader of the Opposition should be on Team Tasmania, but he appears to be on Team Talk Tasmania Down at every single opportunity.

“I will have none of that, because we will be positive and proactive for Tasmania’s future.”

“We will receive the report on Friday and then we will be communicating not only with the tourism industry, but the entire Tasmanian community on the way forward.

“We will still invest in strengthening demand for the existing Spirits. The new Spirits will arrive.

“Until that time, we will have the existing Spirits I and II on Bass Strait exporting our produce, bringing people to Tasmania and boosting our visitor economy, and we will support that.”

Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson resigned form cabinet on Monday ahead of a threatened no-confidence motion over his handling of the new ferries project.

Opposition leader Dean Winter. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Winter said the ferries saga had been the “biggest infrastructure mess” Tasmania had ever seen.

“If the ships are leased to another country, the Tasmanian taxpayers have effectively been forced to support another country’s tourism and hospitality industry while their own suffers through the worst trading conditions they’ve faced in years.

“The tourism industry was forced to find out through the media that the new Spirits won’t be arriving this summer, and now they might have to watch them sailing elsewhere too.

“Not only is the project five years delayed, $500m over budget, with no berth constructed, but the billion-dollar ships might not even be new by the time they arrive.

“Premier Rockliff needs to immediately rule out leasing our new Spirits overseas.”

Northern independent Miriam Beswick said she and colleague Rebekah Pentland were relaxed about the ferries being leased out.

“No one is happy with the position we find ourselves in, but we have to make the best of a bad situation,” Mrs Beswick said.

“Obviously, we want the port infrastructure finished as soon as possible, but if there are significant delays we should explore all options.

“Any leasing arrangement would have to be clearly in Tasmania’s best-interests, but unlike Labor we have an open mind.

“Any lease would need to come with strict caveats, including access to the vessel as soon as the berth is ready.

“We’d also need guarantees that the vessel was returned in mint condition.

“But leasing may well turn out to be a better option than having one or both vessels sit idle.”

Originally published as New Spirit of Tasmania ferries could be rented out: Dean Winter condemns possibility