The newest Spirit of Tasmania ferry has arrived in Australian waters after a six-week voyage from Scotland \u2014 but it will still be more than a week before it is expected to reach Hobart.<\/p>\n
Spirit of Tasmania IV \u2014 one of two new vessels that are set to replace TT-Line’s current Bass Strait ferries \u2014 left the Scottish port of Leith on June 30.<\/p>\n
The 212-metre-long ship has reached Fremantle in Western Australia, after travelling via Gibraltar, Cape Verde off the western coast of Africa, Cape Town in South Africa and Port Louis in Mauritius.<\/p>\n
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Spirit of Tasmania IV docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, as seen on VesselFinder on Tuesday morning. (VesselFinder)<\/p>\n
It will remain in Fremantle for the next four days to undergo customs and immigration formalities and a crew change, as well as to pick up fresh supplies and fuel.<\/p>\n
Spirit IV will then make its way to Hobart, where it’s scheduled to dock on August 23, weather permitting.<\/p>\n
In Hobart, the vessel will undergo a final fit-out, including mattresses, tabletops and artworks, while the crew will undertake training.<\/p>\n
Loading…Long wait until Bass Strait journeys begin<\/p>\n
It will be more than a year before Spirit IV begins transporting passengers and freight between Tasmania and Victoria, due to significant delays and cost blowouts with its berthing facilities in Devonport.<\/p>\n
Spirit of Tasmania IV begins 27,000 km voyage to Hobart<\/a><\/p>\n Spirit of Tasmania IV has departed Scotland and is bound for Hobart, with its expected arrival announced as “late-August”.<\/p>\n The infrastructure, which was originally set to cost $90 million but will now cost $493 million<\/a>, won’t be ready until October next year.<\/p>\n Spirit IV was built in Finland by shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction (RMC), which completed the job last year.<\/p>\n But instead of heading to Tasmania, it spent almost six months berthed in Scotland while the state government investigated whether another company would lease the ship.<\/p>\n The Spirit of Tasmania IV was docked in Scotland for almost six months. (BBC\/Eurovision)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n