Tasmania Maritime Network weighs in on need to chose wisely for builder of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels

Deciding who will build the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels is too big a decision to get wrong, says the state’s leading maritime group.

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A LEADING maritime group has weighed in on the importance of choosing a shipbuilder wisely for the long-awaited new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

With a state government task force launched earlier this month to look into local procurement, purchasing and manufacturing options for the new vessels, shipbuilders are beginning to throw their hats in the ring to become the builders of the next Spirits — including West Australian company Austal and Tasmanian shipbuilders Incat.

Jeff Hawkins, chairman of the Tasmania Maritime Network, says this decision is too important for Tasmania to get wrong.

“It should not be a competition between two shipbuilders both with excellent experience in building catamarans,” he said.

“Rather, the primary question should be: what is the best vessel design needed for TT-Line to service Tasmania?

“Once that is established, the next question should be: which shipbuilder has the track record and proven expertise and capability in building such a vessel?”

Flexicon Dr Jeff Hawkins

Dr Hawkins said this was no time for experimentation.

“The Bass Strait requires the right kind of vessel to maintain the reliability and safety that TT-Line have consistently provided to Tasmanians and travellers to our island,” he said.

“The last thing we need is a bit of experimentation on Bass Strait. It’s very unforgiving.”

With concerns raised by Labor and Incat about parts of the construction taking place in South-East Asia if Austal were to build the vessels, Dr Hawkins said there were positives to having the steel hull built overseas.

“The good thing about getting the steel hull overseas is that the steel isn’t the expensive part,” he said.

“You get the steel hull and the critical machinery done overseas, or in Australia if we have the capability, then bring it to Tasmania to do the superstructure and fit-out. It’s entirely feasible.”

Dr Hawkins said he welcomed the state government’s decision to properly evaluate how the state’s maritime industry could benefit from the building of the new vessels with its new task force.

“It’s a nice, bold move — bold, but appropriate,” he said.

“We have all heard of the promises from shipbuilders saying they will utilise local content if they are given the contract, but all too often the promised use of local content has fallen short at the end of the day.”

He hoped the government would work with the Tasmania Maritime Network to ensure Tasmanian businesses with proven capability were given real consideration.

“We have world-class Tasmanian businesses that can have substantial input into the design and build of Tasmanian vessels,” he said.

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