Fresh troubles hit new Bruny Island ferry operator

ONE of the Bruny Island ferries brought in by the new tenderer is unable to unload at low tides and struggles to dock in strong winds.

The MV Moongalba on its way to Stradbroke Island. Picture: Peter Wallis

THE Bruny Island ferry brought in from Queensland by the new operator is unable to unload at low tide and struggles to dock in strong winds.

Residents have reported problems with the MV Moongalba, including an inability to unload vehicles, being forced to berth stern first and struggling to berth at Roberts Point in some wind conditions.

“Saw an interesting issue on Friday, where the tide was so low that cars couldn’t get off the Moongalba,” a resident wrote in an online forum.

Others commented on winds causing problems with docking.

“I wouldn’t say it was a very strong northerly, but apparently sufficiently strong for the ferry not to berth front on. It had several attempts at going nose in … I worry how the Moongalba will cope when it’s really blowing,” wrote one.

Another described the vessel being forced to back in. “Can you imagine a full load and people had to reverse off? Total chaos,” he said.

Another wrote: “Ten minutes across the channel on the MV Moongalba. Another 20 to dock it and the wind was only 30km/h. Wait until it gets rough.”

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The 44-year-old vessel, formerly operated on Queensland’s Stradbroke Island run, was brought south by new operator Sealink Travel Group to increase capacity after it won the Bruny Island tender in June.

General manager Paul Victory confirmed there had been some teething issues with the vessel.

“When the weather blows up, vessels on any marine routes need to change their standard operating procedures,” he said.

“We’ve had some interesting afternoons, the tides are very strong at the moment and very low.

“We can always deliver a service, but in extreme weather and extreme tides we will have to change our procedures.”

The company has bought the MV Bowen, which would be more suitable in adverse conditions, and upgrades to infrastructure would also help solve the problems, he said.

The company also operates the MV Mirambeena on the route and this week announced two new ferries would be custom-built for the service by local shipbuilders Richardson Devine Marine.

The first of the new vessels is expected to be in operation by December next year, and the second by 2021.

Labor MP David O’Byrne said the problems with the Moongalba were the latest in a series of issues to plague the service.

“The long list of issues occurring since the announcement of the new service shows how poorly the Government has handled the entire affair,” he said.