POTENTIAL problems with mooring and power supply in extreme weather has prompted TT Line to prepare hull-strengthening of new Bass Strait ro-paxes Spirit of Tasmania IV and V.
The company this afternoon [30 September] confirmed problems first reported by the ABC in Tasmania, issuing a statement:
“T-Line appointed a project team to oversee the recovery of the new berth facilities in Devonport.
“The recovery team identified the need for enhanced hull specifications to further prepare for rare or extreme weather events or power failure. There is an extremely low risk of a rare event occurring.
“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.
“Any modifications required will be completed within the current budget and will have no impact on the commencement of service date (October 2026).”
The ABC earlier quoted Tasmanian infrastructure minister Kerry Vincent saying 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.
"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.
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.
"The docking procedure has always been a substantial new system."
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the hull works for Spirit V – still located at the builders’yard in Finland - will be completed overseas, while the works for Spirit IV "will benefit local contractors".