Delivery of new Spirit of Tasmania ferries delayed again after ‘technical issue’ identified

Workers are still assessing the “technical issue” with the replacement Spirit of Tasmania ships that has delayed its delivery to Tasmania, again. The latest >>

Spirit of Tasmania IV in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. Picture: Lee Groves

Update: Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line is working closely on the ground with Finish shipbuilder RMC to fix a technical issues with the two new ferries, a spokesperson said.

In a statement on Thursday morning, they said RMC was continuing its assessment.

“The completion of this assessment will allow TT-Line and RMC to plan next steps, including the rectification works and a timeline for departure of Spirit of Tasmania IV from Leith,” the spokesperson said.

They said the operator continued to focus on safely delivering the vessel to Australia.

Revised timelines will be finalised and announced as soon as practical, the spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, the state government revealed a problem relating to the ferry’s Liquified Natural Gas system was discovered on Spirit V during sea trials.

The issue is one that also impacts Spirit IV that’s currently berthed at Leith, Scotland, which had been scheduled to depart for Australia on Monday but didn’t due to inclement weather.

Initial: The trouble-plagued new Spirit of Tasmania ferries have encountered yet another obstacle, with TT-Line informing the state government that a “technical issue” has been identified on the ships.

It means that the Finnish shipbuilder charged with delivering the vessels, RMC, needs to undertake “further assessment and rectification”, Transport Minister Eric Abetz said in a statement, confirming that Spirit IV would “not depart for Australia until the work is completed”.

Spirit IV is currently berthed at Leith, Scotland and had been scheduled to depart for Australia on Monday but could not do so due to inclement weather.

Liberal member for Clark Simon Behrakis with Minister for Transport Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While the ship was rescheduled to leave Leith on Wednesday, the problem found on Spirit V during sea trials – which relates to the ferry’s Liquified Natural Gas system – prompted concerns the same issue could be present on Spirit IV, putting the departure on hold.

“The government is awaiting further details in relation to a new expected departure date [for Spirit IV], but it is understood that this work will take some time,” Mr Abetz said.

“Any repair costs will be covered under warranty with RMC.

“The Tasmanian government and TT-Line will continue to provide updates as further information comes to hand.”

Mr Abetz said Spirit IV would be relocated to Hobart for final fitout “as soon as possible”.

The replacement Spirits were originally supposed to be completed and brought to Tasmania by 2021 but this never occurred, due in part to the delayed construction of Berth 3 at Devonport.

The Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry docked at Leith in Edinburgh. The newly-constructed Australian ferry was set to be moved from Edinburgh to the other side of the world after leasing negotiations broke down. The ship has been docked in Leith due to issues with existing infrastructure in the Tasmanian city of Devonport. Picture date: Thursday April 3, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

The budget for the new port infrastructure has blown out from an original $90m to an eyewatering $493m.

Earlier this month, the government announced it had brought forward the completion date for Berth 3 from February 2027 to October 2026.

In response to a question from Opposition Leader Dean Winter, Mr Abetz told state parliament on Wednesday that sea trials were continuing for Spirit V and the government would not take ownership of the vessel “until such time as the sea trials have been undertaken”.

“I’m not able to give you which nut or bolt needs to be adjusted or whether a gasket needs to be replaced – [I’ll] allow the mechanics to deal with that,” he said.

“But what became apparent was that if there was this fault on Spirit V, it was very likely that there was the similar fault on Spirit IV, which we have taken possession of.”

Labor leader Dean Winter. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Winter said it was an “international embarrassment” that Spirit IV remained “stuck in Scotland”.

“How on earth have the Liberals managed to stuff this project up so badly? This is a project that is now half-a-billion dollars over budget, six years delayed, and it is costing Tasmania $500m every year,” he said.

The completed Spirit IV has been berthed at Leith since November last year at an average weekly cost of $47,534 AUD for the first month and about $30,000 in subsequent months, excluding ancillary costs.

Former TT-Line interim chair Damian Bugg last year conceded it was a “mistake” for the state-owned company to manage the Berth 3 development and TasPorts should have been the entity to handle it.

Originally published as Delivery of new Spirit of Tasmania ferries delayed again after ‘technical issue’ identified