SPIRIT OF TASMANIA 4

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TT Line in negotiations to lease laid up ferry

The TT-Line has entered live commercial negotiations after receiving an offer to lease the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV'. As a result, the Bass Strait ferry will remain in Leith until the end of February as TT-Line was moving to finalise terms and conditions. The ferry — one of two being commissioned to replace the existing aging Bass Strait ferries — left the shipbuilding yards in Finland at the end of November, and has remained at the port of Leith ever since. The second ship, the 'Spirit of Tasmania V', is still under construction. The 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' was initially slated to arrive in Devonport in Tasmania's north-west in late 2024, but TT-Line failed to build a berth in time. Devonport does not have a berth large enough to accommodate the bigger ship, meaning it has been unable to operate its intended Geelong to Devonport route. Leith was identified as the most cost effective and climate-suitable location to store the new vessels for two years. The berth will not be ready until February 2027, although the government was trying to get it ready for October 2026. In the meantime, the Tasmanian government has been looking at leasing out the ship, which is being kept in Scotland because TT-Line claims it will be easier to lease it out from there. The government would make a decision about the ship's future by the end of January. One of the main arguments for leasing out the ship is to try to recuperate some money. During the two months it has been in Scotland it has already racked up quite the bill. The first month of storing the ship was a lot more expensive, with TT-Line charged $47,534 per week. Since then, the cost has dropped to $23,915 per week and will remain that price during February.

Lease in Edinburgh extended

The 'Spirit f Tasmania' (IMO: 9936587), which has been delayed in Edinburgh as the port infrastructure in its home port of Devonport is not currently fit to house the ship, has extended its lease in Edinburgh for another 30 days, after the state-owned operator TT-Line had been unable to find a third party to lease the ferry. The lease extension was significantly cheaper than the initial berthing costs for the vessel, at an average weekly cost of $23,915, plus ancillary costs. The ferry had arrived at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh on Dec 4. Both the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' and the sister ship 'Spirit of Tasmania V', which is still under construction, are too big for the existing infrastructure of Devonport. A delay in the port upgrade meant that it was unlikely that Devonport will be able to receive them until early 2027. The Spirit of Tasmania ferries connect Tasmania with Geelong, Victoria. TT-Line Company moved its Victorian port operations for Spirit of Tasmania from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong in 2020.

Ferry too big for its berth shifted to Leith

The 'Spirit of Tasmania 4' has docked at the Port of Leith on Dec 3, after it was deemed to be too big for docks in Tasmania. The ferry is one of two ships ordered from a yard in Finland. The decision was made to dock the ship in Scotland for safekeeping after it was decided wintry conditions in the Nordic region would damage the vessel and it was taken to Leith where it could remain until 2026, when the port could send a bill of around £12m. The vessel was safely docked at Leith after the voyage during which extensive pre-planned sea trials were conducted with a surveyor on board, testing the vessel’s systems, performance and capabilities under real-world conditions. TT-Line, the shipping company involved with the vessel, secured the berth for a minimum of 30 days at an average weekly cost of $47,534 AUD (£24,000). Report with photo and video: https://news.stv.tv/east-central/australian-ferry-which-doesnt-fit-docks-down-under-berthed-at-port-of-leith-in-scotland