TT LINE’s new Bass Strait ro-pax Spirit of Tasmania IV will leave Hobart on Friday [18 October] for Geelong but arrangements for its lay-up there are still up-in-the-air, so to speak.
The ship has been undergoing final fit-out and hosting public and travel industry tours since its arrival from Scotland via Fremantle on 23 August but is required to vacate its Macquarie Point berth as Hobart’s 2025-26 cruise season begins in earnest.
Spirit IV is expected to arrive in Geelong at 1800 hours on Sunday to begin testing of infrastructure at the TT Line terminal at Spirit Quay at Corio.
However, plans to then lay-up the ship at the former Alcoa berth at Point Henry have been abandoned after Geelong Port’s mooring safety assessment found infrastructure strengthening would be required.
TT Line now says the vessel will be temporarily stored in the Port of Geelong, “including time at Spirit of Tasmania’s existing terminal, at anchor and at other nearby berthing options”.
DCN understands work is ongoing to determine the exact nature of these arrangements.
Meanwhile, TT Line has re-iterated that Spirit of Tasmania V remains at the yard of Finnish builders RMC and will stay there until November.
“Chairman Ken Kanofski has said previously that the vessel would be laid up at a European berth for the Australian summer as the most cost-effective, logistically suitable option.
“Spirit of Tasmania is finalising negotiations on berthing arrangements in Europe. We will provide an update once this process is complete. The ship is expected to stay in Europe until after the Tasmanian cruise ship season.
“European berths are less expensive than any Australian option. The number of crew required is nine, much less than what is required in Australia, and assists TT-Line with crew management. An update on Spirit of Tasmania V’s long-term berthing will be provided once details are finalised,” a spokesperson said.
Sources suggest Spirit V will also be re-located to Leith, Scotland, as was its sister. Neither ship can enter Devonport-Melbourne service until TT Line’s much-delayed new East Devonport terminal is completed, in October next year.
It is likely Spirit V will leave the UK in May 2026 to proceed to Hobart for its own final fit-out.