TASMANIA currently leads the nation in terms of “business confidence” and general business conditions, according to the July 2024 NAB Monthly Business Survey. Of course, it will come as no surprise to readers of this magazine that shipping and other forms of maritime transport are inextricably linked to said success, as they continue to develop in and around the Apple Isle.
In a press release also from July, Premier Jeremy Rockliff declared that, as part of his government’s Trade Annual Action Plan for 2024-25, a number of relevant overseas parties would actually be brought to Tasmania in the coming months in order to view key products available for export at the source.
“The action plan includes a new two-year, $600,000 program to bring international buyers, investors and distributors to the state so they can see where our quality Tasmanian products come from,” the Premier stated.
As the government actively seeks to boost exports, the ports, companies and ships that service Tasmania are going to be in increasingly greater demand, which is why there are many improvements and additions either happening now or planned for the near future in this sphere, involving several of the principal organisations.
GAINS AND GOALS
Each year, 99% of Tasmania’s freight moves through the multi-port network of TasPorts.
The company is well aware of its responsibility for optimising these critical hubs. A spokesperson told DCN that their focus is very much on “intergenerational infrastructure projects and improvement programs aimed at enhancing port capacity and efficiency, attracting investment, creating jobs, boosting connectivity, improving sustainability and benefitting communities”.
According to TasPorts’ trade data for the latest quarter, containerised and general cargo has experienced a steady 3% increase, with a surge in the forestry sector of 33% in bulk logs and a 22% increase in the mining sector compared to the year prior.
Welcome gains have also been made in the cruise industry. The representative told DCN, “Tasmania has experienced a strong 2023-24 cruise season, welcoming more than 140 cruise ships, 248,000 passengers and nearly 119,000 crew to the state and injecting more than $140 million into the economy.
“Planning is now underway for the next season, starting in late October, where numbers are holding steady,” they said.
“Two new operators joined the Australian market in 2023-24 – Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages – and TasPorts is looking forward to welcoming Disney back to Tasmanian waters in 2024-25, with a strong return season booked for the line.”
The Spirit of Tasmania new vessels are not merely fleet replacements but represent a commitment … to enhancing both efficiency and experience for the passengers and freight forwarders who use our service across Bass Strait.
Bernard Dwyer, TT-Line
A key long-term program for TasPorts is the $240-million QuayLink Project at the Port of Devonport.
The largest such undertaking in a generation, it aims to significantly increase capacity for freight and vehicles, while facilitating exponential trade growth.
“We recently reached a milestone in the project, delivering a new berth pocket, wharf structure and reclamation area at the existing Berth 3E specifically designed for the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, with the work completed on time and on budget,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, thanks to multiple environmental initiatives, the port achieved EcoPorts certification in 2023. In yet another initiative – believed to be a Tasmanian first – the company is partnering with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies to tackle invasive marine species through ecologically responsible methods.
The spokesperson said: “The partnership will see TasPorts support a PhD student to undertake a three-year research project to develop a bespoke eco-engineering solution for our port infrastructure to promote biodiversity, while mitigating the potential colonisation of invasive marine species.”
It is expected that the solution will be based around “living seawalls”, which attempt to create habitats that are favourable to native species but not to invasive ones. These have proven to be effective in other states of Australia and overseas. Along with adding value to artificial structures, there is evidence they may improve the quality of the surrounding water.
Spirit of Tasmania V was launched on 19 July. Image courtesy of Spirit of Tasmania
SPIRITS STILL RISING
Freight and passenger shipping company Spirit of Tasmania is in the process of upgrading its fleet with two new Finnish-made vessels, the Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V. Not only are they longer, wider and taller than the firm’s existing ships, and able to carry both more passengers and more vehicles, but the number of cabin accommodation options has been boosted from 222 to 301 (while recliners are up from 121 to 118 regular plus 47 business recliners).
RELATIONS REMAIN ICY
Concerns were raised last year about the potential risks of Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina sailing under the Tasman Bridge to refuel in Hobart. TasPorts withdrew its conditional approval for the transit in August 2023.
The Polar Class 3 vessel has a displacement of 25,500 tonnes, and is 160.3 metres long, with a beam of 25.6 metres and draught of 9.3 metres. It was the hull that was causing concern, though, as explained by harbour master Mick Wall, who said at the time: “The non-linear and rounded hull, designed for ice operations, does not have a standard parallel bodied underwater area and, as observed on a number of occasions during on-water trials, does not possess the same level of directional stability found in other standard hull form designs when undertaking dynamic turns in windy conditions in confined waters. This means that the vessel would exceed the safe minimum clearing distances from the bridge pylons if [it] attempted to transit the bridge.”
Unfortunately, the problem of accommodating the icebreaker persists as the dispute has become more of a political football, with the federal government baulking at the estimated cost of wharf upgrades that would solve the issue – and the Western Australian government offering to give the Nuyina a new home and take over from Tasmania as this nation’s gateway to Antarctica.
In a June article in Launceston’s Examiner newspaper, it was pointed out that the Antarctic sector contributes $180 million annually to the state’s economy, with chair of the Tasmanian Polar Network Richard Fader quoted as saying, “The importance of quality infrastructure to support the Australian Antarctic Program is imperative.”
RSV Nuyina at Port of Hobart. Image: AAD
But the purpose of introducing the Spirit of Tasmania IV and V goes beyond simply upping specs, as TT-Line managing director and CEO Bernard Dwyer explains: “The Spirit of Tasmania new vessels are not merely fleet replacements but represent a commitment by the Tasmanian government to enhancing both efficiency and experience for the passengers and freight forwarders who use our service across Bass Strait.”
Understandably, every care is being taken to ensure the new ships pass all possible inspections and tests before they set sail for the Apple Isle, so there are no hard-and-fast delivery dates yet. That said, things are advancing well.
Mr Dwyer continues, “We are unable to put an exact date on the arrival of Spirit of Tasmania IV into Tasmania as there are important clauses in the contract regarding the performance of the vessels during sea trials that need to be met before TT-Line will accept delivery.
“The first of these trials was completed successfully last month [June], and a trial was completed more recently. There are literally thousands of items to approve before the ships will be handed over to TT-Line for a delivery to Tasmania prior to conducting additional testing, outfitting and crew training.
“The new vessels will have an expected 30-year life on Bass Strait, and therefore – for obvious reasons – it is important that the company does not rush any of these steps to ensure Tasmania has the best and most reliable ships we can, to operate between Devonport and Geelong.”
With the IV already trialling at sea, what then of the Spirit of Tasmania V? The latest news on the second vessel is also good: it was officially named and launched in Finland in July.
STANDOUT STAND-IN
One of the major players in sea freight between Tasmania and the mainland, specifically between the Port of Burnie and the Port of Melbourne, Strait Link is taking the interesting step of drydocking its two ships, Tasmanian Achiever II and Victorian Reliance II. But the company has important reasons for doing so and has no intention of letting Bass Strait shipping services decline while those vessels are temporarily out of commission.
Strait Link’s executive general manager Geoff Gruebner said: “We take on the responsibility of being the market leader and a vital link connecting Tasmania to the mainland. Understanding the crucial role that we play, the business has invested significant resources to ensure the four months drydocking from August to December does not disrupt Bass Strait shipping.”
The company has spared neither time nor expense locating a stand-in for the Tasmanian Achiever II and Victorian Reliance II while they are being thoroughly checked over and repainted in a new colour scheme.
Understanding the crucial role that we play, the business has invested significant resources to ensure the four months drydocking from August to December does not disrupt Bass Strait shipping.
Geoff Gruebner, Strait Link
“Over 10,000 hours have been dedicated to sourcing a suitable charter vessel in preparation,” Mr Gruebner said.
“The entire Strait Link team is actively involved, with every department – from vessel technical experts to sales and operations teams – collaborating to manage the drydock process and charter-vessel solution. This collective effort will ensure our high standards of reliability and efficiency are upheld, even during maintenance.”
Of course, it wasn’t simply a matter of tracking down an available ship with the appropriate technical specifications to cover the run, as the EGM outlined.
“[The process included] an intensive search to find a suitable vessel, reflagging it for Australian operations, investing in crew accommodation and cargo-hold refits to meet our standards, and providing simulator training for ship masters.
Strait Link’s Victorian Reliance II. Image: Strait Link
“Additionally, we conducted a thorough review of stevedoring and training. And, throughout it all, we’ve kept our customers informed with regular communications and updates, ensuring transparency.”
Thanks to these efforts, the impact on Tassie of putting two of its sea-freight stalwarts into dry dock should be minimised. The stand-in vessel Peregrine arrived in Burnie on 2 August.
CHARGING AHEAD
At a shipyard in Hobart, Incat Tasmania is working on a 100% battery-electric ro-pax ferry intended for a route from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay. When completed, the lightweight catamaran, which will utilise a new type of waterjet propulsion system, should be the biggest of its kind in the world at 130 metres in length.
Earlier this year, the firm was named as being among Australia’s nine Best Managed Companies for 2023 by Deloitte Private, an award that takes into account multiple aspects of business operations, not least innovation. It was the latest in a list of accolades for an organisation looking to continue building on its successes.
On top of the aforementioned creation for Uruguayan transport company Buquebus, which remained on schedule as of June, Incat has announced a partnership with Denmark’s DFDS to design another next-generation electric-hybrid ferry. The proposed vessel would be 72 metres long, with the option to convert to fully electric, and would service European ferry routes.
We know that battery-electric propulsion coupled with lightweight aluminium vessels is the ideal choice to eliminate emissions.
Stephen Casey, Incat Tasmania
Similarly, the enterprising Tassie outfit has announced a further partnership, this time with France’s Brittany Ferries and Finland’s Wärtsilä, to investigate the feasibility of a 137-metre zero-emission ferry – even larger than the mighty catamaran presently under construction for South America.
Quoted in a May press release, Incat CEO Stephen Casey said, “We know that battery-electric propulsion coupled with lightweight aluminium vessels is the ideal choice to eliminate emissions, and we are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with both Brittany Ferries and Wärtsilä as we collectively lead the next evolution of sustainable maritime transport throughout Europe.”
This article appeared in the August | September 2024 edition of DCN Magazine
