Sending ferry to Scotland will save money, premier says

A decision to park one of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries in a Scottish port has been defended by the Premier who says it will protect taxpayers. Here’s why.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks to the media in Lenah Valley in Hobart on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Parking one of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries in a Scottish port while looking for someone to lease it until a local berth is finished will protect Tasmanian taxpayers from additional costs, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.

TT-Line has announced the northern hemisphere winter has forced the relocation of the Spirit of Tasmania IV from Rauma in Finland to Leith in Scotland.

The ferry, and it’s under-construction sister ship Spirit of Tasmania V, is not expected to enter local service until berthing facilities in Devonport are ready in 2027.

The new TT Line boat Spirit of Tasmania IV in Finland. Picture: Rauma Marine Constructions

Mr Rockliff said that the government was proceeding with a plan to seek an operator to lease the ferries until they can be operated on the Bass Strait route.

“As I indicated last Thursday, there were three options that I put forward, one of those was Scotland and we’re getting the ship out of the icy waters [of Finland] into the warmer waters of Scotland and so it’ll be temporary — but much needed,” he said.

“What I’m about is ensuring that when it comes to costs that we minimise the cost on Tasmanian taxpayers and we look forward to ensuring that our Spirits are starting up as soon as possible … but in the meantime, all the decisions that we will be making will be in the best interest of taxpayer funds.

“There’ll be no impact on local contracts as I understand it, we’re still committed to the fit-out in Tasmania, and of course also with Scotland it’s better accessibility in terms of leasing options as well.”

Labor’s shadow Treasurer Josh Willie accused the government of trying to hide the ferries.

Labor's Josh Willie speaks to the media on Salamanca Lawns on Monday October 28, 2024.

“Why can’t they come to Tasmania and be stored here for free? That is the question here,” he said.

“Why is the Tasmanian taxpayer having to now pay for storage when we have our own ports here where they can be stored for nothing.

“It’s an inconvenient truth for Premier Rockley to try and hide a 211-meter ship and that’s clearly what he’s trying to do now hiding the Spirit IV in Scotland because he doesn’t want to bring it to Tasmania because he’s embarrassed about his government’s incompetence.

“There are real questions here on how much it’s going to cost to store the ship in Scotland, whether it’s even going to be leased, and what it means for $100m of local content and local jobs.

“It seems that the Premier is now walking away from that commitment, and it’s not good enough. This is a complete debacle.”