TT-Line identifies German company to build new Spirit of Tasmania ferries

TT-LINE has signed a letter of intent with a German shipbuilder to build the two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

TT-LINE has signed a letter of intent with a German shipbuilder to build the two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

The Spirit of Tasmania operator had short-listed several international shipyards ahead of a competitive tender to build its two boats that will fast-tracked to the route in 2021.

Ahead of the expected ordering of the two new vessels in the first half of this year, TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger has announced that a letter of intent with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft GmbH & Co KG (FSG) has been signed.

Mr Grainger said the companies would now start contract negotiations and agree to final design specifications — including the final cost, with TT-Line having a $180 million ferry replacement fund.

TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger on board an existing Spirit of Tasmania vessel.

“FSG was endorsed by the board after the company short listed a number of international shipyards to build the new tailor-made vessels,” he said.

“As previously announced, we expect to place an order for the new vessels in the first half of the 2018 calendar year and for them to be delivered in time to commence operations on Bass Strait in 2021.”

The Flensburg-based ship builder is building cruise ferries for Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries as well as RoRo vessels for the Siem Group.

FSG chief executive Rüdiger Fuchs, said he was thrilled his company had been chosen as the preferred ship builder for the new vessels.

Despite the bulk of the work being done using overseas expertise, Tasmanian businesses have been promised they won’t miss out on fit-out contracts for the new vessels.

The new ferries will replace the Spirit of Tasmania I and II, which have been in service on the Devonport to Melbourne route since 2002.