First steel cut on Spirit of Tasmania IV
Tasmania is a step closer to having brand new Spirit vessels, with construction now officially begun on the first ship. SEE THE DESIGN. >>
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Construction has begun on the first of two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels at Finland based shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction (RMC).
The ships have also officially been named Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V, taking into consideration the first and second Spirit vessels currently in operation and the third which operated between Devonport and Sydney, now discontinued.
A steel cutting ceremony was held at RMC in Finland on Monday to mark the start of construction.
“This is a significant moment for Tasmania and for the Tasmanian economy,” Spirit of Tasmania managing director Bernard Dwyer said.
The final design of the vessel has also been revealed, with the red and blue logo now featured on the front of the ship and “Spirit of Tasmania” written on the middle of the ship’s side instead of the bottom.
“While the new ships will be a similar design to the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels, they
will feature substantially larger capacity for passengers, passenger vehicles and freight,” Mr Dwyer said.
The ships will be 212 metres in length and will have capacity to carry 1800 passengers.
Mr Dwyer said RMC had an excellent reputation and he was confident the ferries would be of outstanding quality.
“When completed, the vessel’s arrival in late 2023 will mark the start of a new era for passenger travel and freight transport across Bass Strait,” he said.
Construction on Sprit of Tasmania V is expected to be complete in late 2024.
Spirit of Tasmania I and II will be sold when both new ferries are in operation.
Infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson said the shipbuilding contract included up to $100m worth of Tasmanian content.
“Tasmanian businesses are participating in the supply of local goods and services like furniture, carpets, catering equipment and galley, pantries, fire doors, steel doors, machinery including water pumps, expansion tanks, diesel engine equipment, compressors, bilge pumps, platforms and railings, sprinklers and heating systems, as well as CCTV and communications systems,” Mr Ferguson said.
He said the vessels would be delivered well before the replacement deadline in 2028.
“This marks the start of the first of two Spirit of Tasmania vessels which will operate between Devonport and Geelong.”
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