“A very, very good deal”: Spirit sails to new Geelong home
It was a moment three years in the making, and now the Spirit of Tasmania has sailed to its new home in Geelong for the first time. Why some say it’s a game changer>>
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The Spirit of Tasmania has sailed to its new Victorian home in Geelong from Tasmania for the first time, after nearly 40 years at Port Melbourne.
On the first sailing, the vessel was at 80 per cent capacity, with 480 passengers and 200 vehicles on board.
Hobart man Jase Evans, who was on board the first trip, said he preferred the new terminal because he wouldn’t have to deal with Melbourne’s traffic.
“This is my 25th crossing. Being a South Australian, based in Hobart, I do travel a lot on it,” Mr Evans said.
“There’s some people who want to head up to Canberra or Queensland, they might not like the extra 45 minutes. but I think it’s great.
“You’ve got the Great Ocean Road on the doorstep and if you want to go to Melbourne, you can.”
There were festivities on board to celebrate the milestone.
“All the guests got basically a showbag, which had a pen and a certificate, we had live music on board, everyone was quite excited to arrive in Geelong this morning,” Mr Evans said.
The switch from Port Melbourne’s Station Pier to the new Spirit of Tasmania Quay in Geelong was three years in the making, a decision which came after “enormous and indefensible” fees were proposed for the continued use of the old terminal.
“It’s financially advantageous … a very, very good deal for the Spirit of Tasmania and for the state of Tasmania,” T-T Line chairman Mike Grainger said.
The new 12ha site includes a new $135m passenger and freight terminal, along with a three level access ramp for cars to be boarded at the same time as freight vehicles.
The project also includes a secure 24-hour, seven-days-a week freight yards to allow cargo to be collected or dropped off at any time.
The terminal is designed to support the current vessels and the new ships, due for completion in 2023.
Ahead of the delivery of the new ferries, bookings have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.
“If you look at our forward looking projections, they are way up on 2019 pre-Covid,” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.
“There’s a tremendous opportunity here with people already booked over the course of the next 12 months and more.”
Upgrades will also be made to the port in Devonport to accommodate the new vessels.
“Devonport’s next on the list, and through T-T line and TasPorts they’re now in agreement about the new very facilities and terminal at Devonport East,” infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson said.
New dawn for Spirit of Tasmania ferries as final sailings loom
A new era for the Spirit of Tasmania will begin this Sunday with the first sailing from Devonport to Geelong.
Port Melbourne will no longer be the ferries’ Victorian home after 37 years, as the November expiry of the Spirit’s Station Pier lease looms.
A $135m passenger and freight terminal has been built at Corio Quay in Geelong – about an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD – to accommodate the passenger ships.
TT-Line CEO Bernard Dwyer said there were “operational constraints” at Station Pier and the time was right to shift to a new “purpose-built” facility.
“We have loved being part of the Port Melbourne community and we know that our iconic red and white ships will be missed by the locals and visitors to the area,” he said.
“It is the end of an era for Spirit of Tasmania but a necessary move for the benefit of our passengers and the long-term future of our service.”
The final sailing departing Port Melbourne for Devonport will leave at 7.30pm on Saturday night, and residents of the Victorian capital are being invited to wave goodbye to the familiar ferry from the foreshore.
The second Spirit ferry will simultaneously set out for Geelong for the first time, due to arrive at 8am on Sunday.
An event to be attended by up to 1000 people will be held at Corio Quay that morning, where flag-waving Geelong locals will watch the ferry arrive. Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson will travel on the ship.
The inaugural Geelong-to-Devonport voyage will leave at 6.45pm that night.
Mr Ferguson said the new arrangement would provide the Spirit of Tasmania with “a unique opportunity to enhance the passenger experience”.
“Geelong is the smart move for our business, good for tourists and even better for Tasmanians,” he said.
The 12ha Geelong port includes a passenger terminal, vehicle marshalling area for 600 cars and caravans, public amenities, a food and beverage outlet, and a children’s play area.
There’s also a dedicated freight terminal with 150 truck parking bays.
Replacement Spirit ferries are being built by Finnish company RMC. They will be 212 metres long and have a capacity of 1800 passengers each.
The first of the ships is set to arrive in late 2023 and the second in 2024.
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