JUST DAYS after confirming TT Line newbuild Spirit of Tasmania IV will be repatriated to Hobart from its Scotland sojourn transport minister Eric Abetz has floated the notion sister Spirit of Tasmania V may be leased out.
The second Rauma Marine Constructions newbuild is due to begin sea trials in the Gulf of Finland next month. Neither ship can enter Bass Strait service until early 2027, when TT Line’s much-delayed new East Devonport terminal is due to be completed.
TT Line sent Spirit IV to Leith last November to escape Finnish winter extremes and to lay-by while brokers sought a charter that could generate income until the ship enters service. However, efforts were in vain and the government on Sunday [2 March] attempt – hugely unpopular with the Tasmanian public which, as taxpayers, effectively own TT Line – had been abandoned.
Nevertheless, Mr Abetz told Parliament yesterday: “If there is an opportunity for a commercial venture to enable us to gain some income from Spirit V we will explore, as we are duty-bound for the benefit of the people of Tasmania.
“We can either do nothing or we explore opportunities. At this stage, in relation to Spirit IV, those opportunities seem to have been exhausted.”
On Monday Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it became apparent over the weekend that the Scottish government were not keen on signing a lease for the Spirit IV; there had been speculation Scotland was interested in leasing the ship to house Ukrainian refuges but both governments denied this.
Mr Rockliff said it would cost about $4 million to bring Spirit IV to Tasmania and there was much work to be done in deciding a route, recruiting a crew – difficult while the existing Spirits are operating double sailings – and making necessary preparations. He said he was expecting it to arrive in the state during July.
Mr Abetz said the ship would first come to Hobart for the completion of the on-board fit-out but its location for the next 18 months was the subject of discussions with TasPorts.
