The centrepiece of the berth is a 740-tonne gantry, 27 metres high and 38 metres wide, which supports four steel ramps connecting the shore ramp to the ships for vehicle loading. It was built by BMD Constructions, which also built the Spirit of Tasmania facility in Geelong, together with Fitzgerald Constructions Australia and the Tasmanian companies Bridgepro Engineering, Gradco and Vos Constructions. According to the Tasmanian Government, local partners carried out more than half of the berth construction.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I left Devonport for the last time on 22 October and SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II on 23 October, when large crowds lined the Mersey River to see her off. SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I has been laid up at Williamstown. SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II left the berth in Geelong around midday on Saturday 24 October to make way for SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V, and is laid up at Station Pier in Melbourne, where the Spirit of Tasmania ferries berthed before the service moved to Geelong.

TT-Line's latest annual report values the pair at AUD 87.5 million. "We're in advanced conversations with a number of parties in relation to the vessels," TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone told The Examiner. TT-Line says it does not expect the ships to be laid up for long, but no buyer has been announced.

The opening came amid a dispute between Tasmania's Auditor-General and TT-Line over the company's solvency. Rockliff said the government had "every confidence" in TT-Line and its new board and chief executive.

Read also https://www.shippax.com/en/news/tt-line-writes-down-spirit-of-tasmania-ferries-and-terminals.aspx

© Shippax