TASPORTS has enabled an additional Bass Island Line (BIL) sailing to King Island today (6 December), which the port authority says reinforces its commitment to supporting regional communities.
The initiative is in response to heightened demand for cattle transport as local farmers on the island manage the challenges of ongoing dry seasonal conditions.
TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald highlighted the significance of this government-supported sailing, made possible through the Tasmanian Government’s drought assistance funding.
“Bass Island Line exists to connect and support regional communities, and this additional sailing is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to the community and our customers,” Mr Donald said.
“By bringing forward this service to arrive in Grassy on Friday, we’re ensuring farmers have the vital logistics and support they need to manage their operations in the face of drought conditions.”
The important service has reportedly been coordinated in partnership with the Department of State Growth and processor JBS, who worked with BIL to consolidate bookings and ensure sufficient freight volumes for the sailing, TasPorts said.
Mr Donald acknowledged the collaborative effort, “Bass Island Line worked with its customer JBS to understand and put forward a case to the Tasmanian Government that has ultimately enabled the movement of cattle off Island that would not have been viable without the Tasmanian Government’s support”.
“I want to acknowledge the Tasmanian Government’s support for this service and thank our customer JBS, who assisted in responding to the needs of the King Island community.”
Since mid-October, BIL has seen heightened demand for its regular services, with increased cattle movements pushing its capacity to the limit.
This additional voyage will exclusively carry cattle trailers to provide essential relief for farmers.
TasPorts said this initiative underscores its mission to support Tasmania’s regional communities by ensuring reliable and responsive logistics solutions when they are needed most.
