The LNG issues with the two new ferries are the latest in this newbuilding project, a project that has been affected by cost overruns and delays. Both new Bass Strait ferries were originally planned for delivery in late 2024. The delivery of both 48,000gt vessels was initially delayed by the construction work on the new ferry berth in the Tasmanian port of Devonport.

Construction of the new berth in Devonport, which is owned and operated by Tasmanian government-owned TasPorts, didn’t start until 2024 and isn’t now expected to be completed until late 2026. This new berth has also been beset by cost overruns. The initial cost of the new berth was estimated at AUD 90 million before 2024. However, in 2024 costs had risen to AUD 375 million and that figure has now been revised to AUD 495 million!

Currently, there is talk in Tasmania that this new TasPorts facility could be privatised before construction work is completed.

Both ferries are not expected in service now until 2027.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV was delivered towards the end of 2024, but due to construction delays at the new berth in Tasmania, TT-Line took the decision to lay-up the new ferry in the Scottish port of Leith, with the ferry arriving there on 3 December 2024. At the end of December last year, TT-Line instructed shipbrokers to look for a suitable charterer of the new 212m x 31m ferry, which is capable of carrying 1,800 passengers and 3,700 lanemetres of vehicles on two decks.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV will remain in Leith until the LNG issues have been rectified, work which will “take some time”, said Tasmania’s Minister for Transport Eric Abetz. Exact details about the LNG issues with both vessels have not been revealed.

Both new Tasmanian ferries have been specifically designed to maintain the Bass Strait service, linking the Australian mainland port of Geelong, in Victoria, with Devonport, in Tasmania, across an open sea crossing that can be extremely rough at times. The Finnish newbuildings are the first LNG ferries on the route and will replace the 1998-built sisters SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II, once they are in service.

Don’t miss our special report on SPIRIT OF TASMANIA IV. Free to read here