The newly constructed ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV, measuring 212 meters (695 feet), will be mothballed at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh due to a complicated series of construction setbacks that have resulted in what has been called a "ferries fiasco" in Australia. The vessel had been built at a shipyard in Rauma, Finland, but must be moved ahead of winter conditions, where pack ice poses a risk to its safety.
Lauded as a potential game changer for Tasmania's tourism, the ferry is now unable to dock at its designated port in Devonport owing to a lack of proper berths, which will not be completed until at least late 2026. Both the ferry company, TT-Line, and the ports operator, TasPorts, are state-owned entities, and the situation has led to significant political turmoil in Tasmania, with resignations among high-ranking officials including infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson and TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger.
Recent reports suggest that the infrastructure developments in Devonport, originally slated for completion in 2024, are now facing delays that push the arrival of the necessary berths into late 2026 at the earliest. TT-Line chief executive Bernard Dwyer stated the urgency of relocating the Spirit of Tasmania IV to Scotland to safeguard it from impending harsh winter conditions in Finland.
With potential plans for leasing the massive vessel still uncertain due to the original contract stipulating further work in Australia, it is unlikely the ship could operate effectively in Scotland, particularly as CalMac, the ferry operator on the west coast, is in dire need of new vessels.
This situation mirrors a similar "ferries fiasco" in Scotland, where the completion of larger vessels, Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, has stalled due to existing infrastructure limitations and ongoing disputes over port redevelopments, leading to delays in service provision.
Lauded as a potential game changer for Tasmania's tourism, the ferry is now unable to dock at its designated port in Devonport owing to a lack of proper berths, which will not be completed until at least late 2026. Both the ferry company, TT-Line, and the ports operator, TasPorts, are state-owned entities, and the situation has led to significant political turmoil in Tasmania, with resignations among high-ranking officials including infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson and TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger.
Recent reports suggest that the infrastructure developments in Devonport, originally slated for completion in 2024, are now facing delays that push the arrival of the necessary berths into late 2026 at the earliest. TT-Line chief executive Bernard Dwyer stated the urgency of relocating the Spirit of Tasmania IV to Scotland to safeguard it from impending harsh winter conditions in Finland.
With potential plans for leasing the massive vessel still uncertain due to the original contract stipulating further work in Australia, it is unlikely the ship could operate effectively in Scotland, particularly as CalMac, the ferry operator on the west coast, is in dire need of new vessels.
This situation mirrors a similar "ferries fiasco" in Scotland, where the completion of larger vessels, Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, has stalled due to existing infrastructure limitations and ongoing disputes over port redevelopments, leading to delays in service provision.
