Broker to provide advice on Spirit of Tasmania charter or leasing options to the state government by the end of January
An update on how negotiations to lease or charter the Spirit of Tasmania IV have been provided as the ship sits idle in a Scottish port.
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The state government says it is continuing “to explore leasing or chartering options” for the newest Spirit.
It also revealed the cost of berthing the vessel in Scotland has gone from a weekly cost of $47,534 during the first month to an average of $23,915 every seven days.
But Labor still believes the cost of keeping the ship there is too high.
The opposition says the tab for the Spirit of Tasmania IV’s stay at Leith in Scotland has reached “close to $600,000.”
Labor Finance Spokesman Luke Edmunds said that included $380,000 in crew costs and $190,000 for storage.
“That’s a complete waste of money; money down the toilet. Let’s bring them home,” Mr Edmunds said.
“At what point is the government going to spend a certain dollar figure on storing the Spirits overseas, where it actually gives up the ghost and says it’s probably time to bring them home.”
Mr Edmunds said he was concerned that a lease for the Spirits would not be signed.
“What the evidence is telling us, gathered through the parliament, is the best place for the Spirits to be is in Tasmania.
“How many more hundreds of thousands of dollars does the government have to spend storing them overseas before they face facts and admit that they’re better off kept in Tasmania.”
A state government spokesperson said it was seeking “the best possible financial return for Tasmanians” regarding the Spirit.
“Options to lease or charter the vessel to a third party continue to be sought through TT-Line’s specialist broker, Clarksons, with advice to be provided to the Government by TT-Line by the end of January,” the spokesperson said.
“The ship remains in Leith, Scotland, while this work continues with TT-Line extending its lease a further 30 days at an average weekly cost of $23,915, plus ancillary costs.
“As previously noted, this is significantly less than the cost of berthing the vessel for the first 30 days, which was at a weekly cost of $47,534 plus ancillary costs.”
The government said ongoing ancillary costs were accrued on a “do and charge basis” and would be made public once finalised.
“As advised last month, crewing costs would be incurred regardless of where the vessel was located and are currently estimated at $380,000 per month.
“Crewing costs in Tasmania would be significantly higher due to differing domestic requirements, resulting in increased onboard crew numbers.”
The Spirit of Tasmania IV was supposed to be sailing between Devonport and Geelong by now but has been leased out because the associated port infrastructure is incomplete.
February 2027 is the estimated date Berth 3E in Devonport will be ready for the two new ships.
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Originally published as Broker to provide advice on Spirit of Tasmania charter or leasing options to the state government by the end of January
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