Sea Swift welcomes the Newcastle Bay II in game changer for Northern Australia shipping
A key transport company servicing the Far North and Torres Strait has welcomed a massive new vessel that it calls a “game changer” as the company remains embroiled in a multimillion legal battle.
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Sea Swift, a key shipping company servicing the Far North and Torres Strait, has welcomed a massive new vessel that it calls a game changer for Northern Australia as the business remains embroiled in a multimillion legal battle.
The company has announced the imminent arrival of Newcastle Bay II a purpose-built cargo vessel which promises to be groundbreaking for Far North Queensland remote communities.
The Newcastle Bay II is set to arrive in Cairns in October, following successful sea trials in
Indonesia which confirmed its readiness for service in Australia.
The vessel is then expected to be in service in the weeks following her arrival in Cairns.
The Newcastle Bay II will be deployed to meet schedules between Cairns, Horn Island, and
Weipa, also playing a vital role in ensuring food and essential deliveries reach the Outer
Torres Strait Islands.
Sea Swift Chief Executive Officer Dwayne Freeman expressed his excitement at welcoming
the Newcastle Bay II to the company’s fleet.
“The arrival of the Newcastle Bay II is a momentous occasion for Sea Swift and the entire
Northern Australia community,” Mr Freeman said.
“This vessel represents our commitment to improving cargo capacity and connectivity across
the region.”
To celebrate, Sea Swift will host a grand launch event attended by stakeholders, valued customers, Sea Swift crew, and local government officials, with details to
be revealed soon.
Measuring just shy of 100 meters in length and capable of reaching a maximum speed of 16
knots, the Newcastle Bay II is poised to revolutionise Sea Swift’s capabilities.
“This vessel is a game-changer for our communities,” said Mr Freeman.
“It will significantly increase our cargo capacity, especially during Northern Queensland’s wet
season, and also offer passenger accommodation, further enhancing our services.”
The Far North shipping firm has been at loggerheads with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council over a multimillion-dollar bill for use of council maintained marine infrastructure in the Torres Strait.
Court documents revealed that on December 21, 2022, council lawyers issued Sea Swift with 253 invoices totalling $66,543,146.
Sea Swift is defending the matter.
Originally published as Sea Swift welcomes the Newcastle Bay II in game changer for Northern Australia shipping
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