New Spirit of Tasmania vessels need hull upgrades in case of 'extreme' weather, TT-Line says

Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line is continuing to assess the extent and cost of upgrading the hull for the two new Bass Strait ferries — which have both been completed.

In an update last week, the Tasmanian government said the works were being undertaken in preparation for rare or extreme weather events, or power failure.

The hull specification issue was picked up by the project’s “recovery team”, which was introduced last year to address problems with the vessels’ rollout following a series of public scandals.

Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said TT-Line was “still a few weeks away” from determining the extent and cost of the hull works.

“A part of what it [TT-Line] needs to do is double check all the calculations that were made in the design of it,” Mr Vincent said.

A close up of a red and white ship with the name Spirit of Tasmania IV.

A team dedicated to addressing problems with the rollout of the ferries identified the hull problem. (Supplied: TT-Line)

“And with changes to that, alterations need to be made, which is operational and that’s what they’re doing.”

The nature of the hull works has not been publicly detailed.

Spirit IV set for storage in Victoria after Hobart fit-out

The ship will stay in Hobart for about two months, then it will be moved to Victoria until it’s ready to be used on the Bass Strait crossing in a year’s time.

The new docking procedure in Devonport and Geelong will involve the two vessels essentially being “sucked onto the wharf”, Mr Vincent said.

“The berth and how the ship moves into the fenders and that in place is all part of what they are checking,” he said.

“It is something operational, they are working through on a daily basis.

An aerial of construction work at a large ship dock.

A berth for the two new vessels is being built in Devonport. (Facebook: Jeremy Rockliff)

“The docking procedure has always been a substantial new system.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the hull works for Spirit of Tasmania 5 will be completed overseas, while the works for Spirit of Tasmania 4 “will benefit local contractors”.

Spirit 5 is currently berthed in Finland before being relocated prior to the northern winter, while Spirit 4 is in Hobart and is expected to relocate to Geelong next month.

In a statement, TT-Line said the hull specification upgrades were precautionary.

Documents lift lid on Spirit ferry lease options and final costs

Options for the new Spirit of Tasmania ship to be used to “ease the housing crisis” in Scotland or to accommodate “displaced residents” in California were passed over in favour of it being docked at a cost to Tasmanian taxpayers of around $600,000 a month, documents reveal.

“There is an extremely low risk of a rare event occurring,” the statement reads.

“The recovery team is also working closely with TasPorts and the Harbour Master on the wharf infrastructure, as it plans for berthing in rare or extreme events.”

TT-Line said the works will be completed “within the current budget”.

The two vessels are expected to start transporting travellers between Geelong and Devonport in October next year.

TT-Line recently released tickets for free, self-guided tours of the new vessel that will take place in October. All three days have sold out.

The Spirit of Tasmania IV, a tour Sleek but partially unfinished interiors in the Spirit of Tasmania IV, including new bars and a cinema room.