Govt demands Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry come home

The new Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry, currently berthed in Scotland, will be brought home after the Tasmanian Government instructed state-owned ferry operator TT-Line to cease lease negotiations.

“I’m providing advice that is consistent with the government’s position, that the government has instructed TT-Line to cease those negotiations and to commence the relocation of Spirit IV to Tasmania,” Deputy Premier Guy Barnett said yesterday.

The state’s Transport Minister, Eric Abetz, said in a statement that TT-Line has been engaging with a broker in good faith, “however, it has become evident that an agreement will not be reached”.

As a result, TT-Line has been instructed to continue preparations to relocate the vessel to Tasmania. Neither Barnett nor Abetz could confirm the timeline of when the ferry would return to Tasmania.

“We have always acted in the best interests of the Tasmanian taxpayer,” Minister Abetz said in the statement. “We had an opportunity to secure an agreement worth tens of millions of dollars for the Tasmanian taxpayer, and it would have been economically irresponsible not to explore this.

“Previous similar leases provided more than 50 million euros to vessel owners, and it was prudent that we sought similar arrangements for Tasmanian taxpayers.

“Sadly, Labor’s negativity surrounding the matter has not helped and disparaging commentary has harmed the State’s economic interests.

“The relentless negativity is hurting the state’s economic opportunities, and it’s time to move forward together.”

TT-Line will continue with plans to relocate the vessel, and a further update regarding timelines will be provided in due course, Abetz said.

The ship is currently being berthed in the Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland, while a suitable berth is built to house it in Devonport, Tasmania.

Spirit IV was originally meant to be transporting passengers and freight across Bass Strait by last year.

Outcry as Spirit of Tasmania IV is scheduled to remain in Scotland for another month – Travel Weekly

Delays to infrastructure

But delays to infrastructure at the port of Devonport mean neither of the two new Spirits are expected to operate between Tasmania and Victoria until 2027.

The Scottish government quashed speculation that it had plans to lease the new Spirit of Tasmania to house Ukrainian refugees.

“This is not true,” a Scottish government spokesperson said. “The government has no plans to lease this or any other vessel for this purpose.”

Tasmania’s second new vessel, Spirit of Tasmania V, is still under construction in Finland.