TT Line’s ro-pax Spirit of Tasmania I has been detained post-drydock in Singapore, delaying its return to Bass Strait service.
The vessel left Geelong on 6 July for bi-annual maintenance and overhaul, with the regular Sydney Garden Island dock unavailable due to RAN commitments, and arrived in Singapore on 15 July. It had been expected to resume operations from Geelong to Devonport on 6 August.
Reports first emerged on social media this morning that Spirit of Tasmania I was detained yesterday by the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority and it was boarded again by inspectors this morning. Private sources described the problems as “mostly minor paperwork issues” but the MPA told Tasmania’s Pulse the detention is over deficiencies in the fire detection system and the visitor log.
A TT Line spokesperson told DCN “Spirit of Tasmania I’s departure from Singapore has been delayed by the local port authority while surveyors sign off on a number of minor matters identified when the vessel left dry dock.”
The line will revert when a new departure from Singapore is confirmed, the spokesperson said.
SpoT I and SpoT II, as the pair are fondly known, take it in turns for maintenance dockings every two years, although last year’s work on Spirit of Tasmania II was undertaken in-water while the ro-pax was alongside in Hobart.
With the entry into service of replacements Spirit of Tasmania IV and V delayed until late next year due to the unavailability of the new, under-construction East Devonport terminal it is likely TT Line has been forced to undertake additional work to see it through to the next intermediate and special surveys, the latter due 29 March 2028.