In October 2022, Port gathered to farewell the Spirit of Tasmania. After 37 years at Station Pier, Spirit of Tasmania 1 & 11 moved to a new purpose built facility in Geelong.
Two new longer and larger ferries were already on order.
That distinctive Spirit red has reappeared across the Bay. Spirt of Tasmania IV has been berthed at Nelson Pier, Williamstown since 11 March to have strengthening work done on the hull, and until a berth becomes available in Tasmania.
The troubled background to Spirt of Tasmania IV and V
The procurement, building, and delivery of the two new ferries and the berth to accommodate them has been fraught. The project has been plagued by delays, changes of direction and cost overruns.
In December 2017, TT-Line announced it has signed a letter of intent with German ship builder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) for the construction of the two new ferries. In May 2018 the two parties signed a contract. Delivery was anticipated in 2021.
In 2020 the contract with FSG was cancelled because the yard was unable to fulfill its obligations to the contract and deliver the ships on time.
There was talk of returning construction of the ferries to Australia.
The project to build the two ferries was then taken on by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland. Construction began in February 2022.
After completion and handover in September 2024, Spirit of Tasmania IV and V left Finland to avoid icey conditions which could damage the vessels. Since the berth at Devonport was not ready to receive them, the ferries were laid up in at Leith in Scotland. During their long stay, the vessels incurred significant berthing fees. The red ferries caught the eye of Edinburgh locals and tourists.
Spirit of Tasmania IV left Leith at the end of June 2025 and arrived in Tasmania in August.
The berth at Devonport was not ready. She couldn’t stay in Hobart over the cruise season as the berth was needed. There were also complications around the specifications for hull strengthening works which led to further cost escalation and delay.
For a brief time, she was at Port Henry near Geelong but the berth wasn’t strong enough.
Spirit of Tasmania IV is now at Williamstown having her hull strengthened and while the berth at Devonport is finished.
Spirit of Tasmania V
Spirit of Tasmania V left Leith for Australia on 7 March. She will make her way down the west coast of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the conflict in the Middle East. The voyage is expected to take seven weeks.
On Wednesday, Spirit of Tasmania V was heading south toward the Canary Islands.
Work is underway on the gantry at Devonport. It is anticipated that the vessels will be ready for service by October 2026 when the ferries have been fitted out and the berth completed.
Spirit of Tasmania I and II are currently for sale with each valued around $50 million to $85 million. The sale is crucial for offsetting financial losses and funding the new vessels
The project has been subject to parliamentary inquiries, investigations by the Auditor General and prompted a no confidence vote in the Premier, bringing on the Tasmanian election in July 2025. The project has been bailed out by the Tasmanian government on several occasions.
The controversy about the new football stadium in Hobart has overshadowed the Tasmanian ferry story in the national media.
