Josh Willie says scratch to Spirit of Tasmania IV shows it should be berthed in Tasmania

The Labor Party says superficial damage to the paint work on Spirit of Tasmania IV shows why the ship should come home to Tasmania. Read why.

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

The Labor Party is renewing calls for the government to “end the charade” and bring the new Spirit of Tasmania ship home to the state after it suffered a scratch to its paint work at the Scottish port where it sits idle.

TT-Line confirmed the ship sustained a two-metre long scratch to the paint work when berthing in Leith.

It is believed there was no damage to the steel.

A TT-Line spokesman said due to the superficial nature of the scratch, the paintwork would be repaired when weather permitted.

“The reported scratch on Spirit IV is insignificant, has no impact on ship operation or performance and is completely to be expected on a working ship,” he said.

“In service wear of this nature (it) is repaired as part of standard maintenance.”

Labor's Josh Willie speaks to the media on the Hobart waterfront on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

But Labor’s treasury spokesman Josh Willie said the damage was further evidence that Premier Jeremy Rockliff should bring Spirit IV back to Tasmania.

“It is highly unlikely that the ship is going to be leased and that’s according to TT line itself,” he said.

“Mr Rockliff should end the charade, bring the ship home and do the local fit out that he promised, and give local Tasmanian businesses a boost.

“What this damage shows is that anything could happen.

“If the ship is leased, we lose total control. It could get damaged.

“We paid a brand new price for these ships, and we’ll get second hand ships if they’re leased.”

Mr Willie said the Premier could issue a ministerial direction that TasPorts not charge TT-Line for berthing the ship in Tasmania.

He said it was costing Tasmanian taxpayers $500,000 a month including $380,000 in crewing costs, while the ship was in Scotland but the government says it is costing $23, 915AUD, plus ancillary costs.

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

In an update on January 17, it said work by TT-Line’s specialist broker “continued to explore options for leasing or charter of the Spirit IV vessel”.

“Various interested parties recently travelled to Leith to tour the vessel, with discussions ongoing,” it said.

“Advice is expected to be received by the end of the month at which point a decision will be made.”

Spirit of Tasmania IV was built in Finland but was moved to Leith in early December due to a lack of suitable port infrastructure in Devonport.

Mr Willie said it should return to Tasmania until the Devonport port infrastructure “is finally built”.