New Spirit of Tasmania ferries to be leased out due to delays on berthing facilities at Devonport

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has revealed new ferries will be leased out after significant delays to berthing infrastructure at Devonport. The latest.

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

February 2027 is the likely date that Berth 3E in Devonport will be ready for the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

And when they do arrive, the state government is hoping that the ships would have already been leased out during the interim.

Construction work on Berth 3E at Devonport. Picture: Simon McGuire.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff outlined the plans for the Spirits on Thursday morning after receiving a report from engineering and infrastructure experts Ben Moloney and Peter Gemell.

“This situation we are in is extremely regrettable – but Tasmanians want us to deliver a solution,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We have said we will sort the spirits, fix the GBEs and back Tasmania’s tourism industry, and that’s what we are doing today.

“Without the intervention of the government and inserting Ben Moloney and Peter Gemell into the project, it is likely that this project may not have been finished until much later, with several timing and risk mitigations already instigated.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. New Tasmanian government cabinet swearing in at government house in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While he hoped Berth 3E could be ready as early as October 2026, Mr Rockliff said February 2027 was a more realistic date.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) CEO Michael Bailey called on the government to ensure there was independent oversight of the Berth 3 project.

“This is a dark day for Tasmania,” he said.

TCCI CEO Michael Bailey. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The economic costs will be felt by businesses and taxpayers for years to come, our brand has been damaged and it has impacted on business confidence.

“It will certainly be difficult to trust [the government] on the timelines they have set out today.”

Mr Bailey called on the government to consider a Commission of Inquiry into the handling of the Spirits.

Labor leader Dean Winter echoed the concerns of TCCI.

“This is the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmania’s history by far and it might be one of the biggest in Australia’s history,” he said.

“This morning we thought this project was five years delayed and $500m over budget, today we find out it’s six years delayed and about $600m over budget.

“The new date of February 2027 means we’re going to miss another summer … that’s three more summers without these Spirits, delivering extra capacity, more passengers, at a time when Tasmania desperately needs it..”

Mr Winter said the Premier needed to be clear about the due date.

“We can’t have anymore stuff ups,” he said.

“We’ve been asking questions about this for six months, leading up to this very moment where he’s finally admitted what so many people have known for a long time.”

Mr Winter said leasing the Spirits out was a “bad option”

“There are no good options here. These spirits are branded Spirit of Tasmania, the painting’s already on the ship. They should not be operating in another country, it’s ridiculous.

“When the ships eventually come here they’ll be second hand.”

Originally published as New Spirit of Tasmania ferries to be leased out due to delays on berthing facilities at Devonport