New Spirit of Tasmania ships to be operational sooner as completion date for Berth 3 brought forward

The replacement Spirit of Tasmania ferries will be up and running sooner than originally planned after the completion date for a crucial piece of port infrastructure was brought forward.

The Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry docked at Leith in Edinburgh. The newly constructed Australian ferry will 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 state government has brought forward the completion date for Devonport’s Berth 3, meaning the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries will be operational by the time the 2026-27 summer season rolls around.

But Labor has slammed the Liberals for a budget blowout in the port infrastructure upgrade, noting that Berth 3 was first budgeted at $90m but that blew out to $375m and had now soared to $493m.

The government’s announcement came as Transport Minister Eric Abetz was grilled by the state parliament’s Public Accounts Committee regarding the government’s handling of the replacement Spirits project.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the troubled Berth 3 development would now be ready by October 2026 rather than February 2027.

Spirit of Tasmania IV docked in Leith, Scotland. Picture: Tyson Scott

“We said we would fix the Spirits, and that’s exactly what we have done,” he said.

“I want to thank the new [TT-Line] chair Mr Ken Kanofski and project director Mr Paul Kirkwood for their hard work and dedication to getting this project on track.

“We also have many contractors on site, working tirelessly to pull out all stops to get this project delivered as quickly as possible and I thank them for their work.”

A new contract has been signed between TT-Line and BMD, which Mr Abetz said meant the new Spirits would be able to “start operating earlier to support growth in our economy and tourism sector”.

Minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The new contract, which has a revised formal cost estimate of $493 million, determines a way forward that will deliver faster timelines, and improved project management,” he said.

Labor infrastructure spokeswoman Anita Dow said if the Berth 3 project had been completed “like the Liberals said it would be, Tasmania’s finances would be $400m better off”.

“Jeremy Rockliff’s chaotic and incompetent minority government can’t manage money, and Tasmanians are paying the price,” she said.

Spirit of Tasmania IV is expected to depart Leith, Scotland for Australia “on or around” May 26, according to the government.

Its voyage is tipped to take about 36 days, with an arrival into Hobart in mid-July.

The final fit-out will be completed in Hobart.

Originally published as New Spirit of Tasmania ships to be operational sooner as completion date for Berth 3 brought forward