'Botched' Bass Strait ferries suffer new cost blowout
Delivery of the two new larger Spirit of Tasmania vessels has been dubbed one of the greatest infrastructure stuff-ups in Australia's history.
One of the two ships has been in Scotland since December because an upgraded port at Devonport in Tasmania hasn't been built.
The saga forced Tasmania's deputy premier Michael Ferguson to relinquish his portfolios and prompted resignations at government businesses in charge of the project.
The government had previously flagged the new Devonport berth would be ready between October 2026 and February 2027.
On Friday, it said construction would be finished by October 2026 and the vessels would be operational for the 2026/27 summer.
The price tag has continued to blow out, to $493 million from the most-recent estimate of $375 million. It was originally slated to cost $90 million.
The ships, one of which is in Finland undergoing sea trials, were originally meant to get to Tasmania in late 2024.
Tourism companies and businesses that prepared for a greater influx of people have criticised the government for delays.
"The government is confident it now has the right people and robust project governance, discipline and controls in place," Transport Minister Eric Abetz said.
The ship in Scotland will arrive in Hobart in mid-July where it will undergo a final fit-out expected to take two months.
TT-Line, which operates the ferries, is considering where to berth the ship in Hobart once it is fully complete.
The government tried unsuccessfully to lease the ship during its stay in Scotland.
People will be able to sail Bass Strait on a new ferry from the end of 2026, according to a state government which has revealed a further cost blowout to the already-delayed ships.
Delivery of the two new larger Spirit of Tasmania vessels has been dubbed one of the greatest infrastructure stuff-ups in Australia's history.
One of the two ships has been in Scotland since December because an upgraded port at Devonport in Tasmania hasn't been built.
The saga forced Tasmania's deputy premier Michael Ferguson to relinquish his portfolios and prompted resignations at government businesses in charge of the project.
The government had previously flagged the new Devonport berth would be ready between October 2026 and February 2027.
On Friday, it said construction would be finished by October 2026 and the vessels would be operational for the 2026/27 summer.
The price tag has continued to blow out, to $493 million from the most-recent estimate of $375 million. It was originally slated to cost $90 million.
The ships, one of which is in Finland undergoing sea trials, were originally meant to get to Tasmania in late 2024.
Tourism companies and businesses that prepared for a greater influx of people have criticised the government for delays.
"The government is confident it now has the right people and robust project governance, discipline and controls in place," Transport Minister Eric Abetz said.
The ship in Scotland will arrive in Hobart in mid-July where it will undergo a final fit-out expected to take two months.
TT-Line, which operates the ferries, is considering where to berth the ship in Hobart once it is fully complete.
The government tried unsuccessfully to lease the ship during its stay in Scotland.
People will be able to sail Bass Strait on a new ferry from the end of 2026, according to a state government which has revealed a further cost blowout to the already-delayed ships.
Delivery of the two new larger Spirit of Tasmania vessels has been dubbed one of the greatest infrastructure stuff-ups in Australia's history.
One of the two ships has been in Scotland since December because an upgraded port at Devonport in Tasmania hasn't been built.
The saga forced Tasmania's deputy premier Michael Ferguson to relinquish his portfolios and prompted resignations at government businesses in charge of the project.
The government had previously flagged the new Devonport berth would be ready between October 2026 and February 2027.
On Friday, it said construction would be finished by October 2026 and the vessels would be operational for the 2026/27 summer.
The price tag has continued to blow out, to $493 million from the most-recent estimate of $375 million. It was originally slated to cost $90 million.
The ships, one of which is in Finland undergoing sea trials, were originally meant to get to Tasmania in late 2024.
Tourism companies and businesses that prepared for a greater influx of people have criticised the government for delays.
"The government is confident it now has the right people and robust project governance, discipline and controls in place," Transport Minister Eric Abetz said.
The ship in Scotland will arrive in Hobart in mid-July where it will undergo a final fit-out expected to take two months.
TT-Line, which operates the ferries, is considering where to berth the ship in Hobart once it is fully complete.
The government tried unsuccessfully to lease the ship during its stay in Scotland.
People will be able to sail Bass Strait on a new ferry from the end of 2026, according to a state government which has revealed a further cost blowout to the already-delayed ships.
Delivery of the two new larger Spirit of Tasmania vessels has been dubbed one of the greatest infrastructure stuff-ups in Australia's history.
One of the two ships has been in Scotland since December because an upgraded port at Devonport in Tasmania hasn't been built.
The saga forced Tasmania's deputy premier Michael Ferguson to relinquish his portfolios and prompted resignations at government businesses in charge of the project.
The government had previously flagged the new Devonport berth would be ready between October 2026 and February 2027.
On Friday, it said construction would be finished by October 2026 and the vessels would be operational for the 2026/27 summer.
The price tag has continued to blow out, to $493 million from the most-recent estimate of $375 million. It was originally slated to cost $90 million.
The ships, one of which is in Finland undergoing sea trials, were originally meant to get to Tasmania in late 2024.
Tourism companies and businesses that prepared for a greater influx of people have criticised the government for delays.
"The government is confident it now has the right people and robust project governance, discipline and controls in place," Transport Minister Eric Abetz said.
The ship in Scotland will arrive in Hobart in mid-July where it will undergo a final fit-out expected to take two months.
TT-Line, which operates the ferries, is considering where to berth the ship in Hobart once it is fully complete.
The government tried unsuccessfully to lease the ship during its stay in Scotland.
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Bungled Bass Strait ferry arrives in Australian waters
A new 212m-long Bass Strait ferry involved in a port bungle dubbed the nation's biggest infrastructure stuff-up has arrived in Australian waters. Spirit of Tasmania IV, one of two replacement vessels, won't be operational until late 2026, years behind schedule, because the island state government hasn't yet built a berth. The ship left Scotland on June 30, after being kept there for months during an unsuccessful leasing bid. It arrived on Tuesday in Fremantle in Western Australia, as part of formal vessel importation procedures and for a change of crew and to pick up fresh supplies. A final fit-out, including the installation of mattresses, tabletops and artworks, will occur in Hobart following its expected docking on August 23. The Tasmanian government has stumped up more than $4.3 million to store the ship in Scotland. The state's Labor opposition previously labelled the failure of the ships' government-owned operator to build a berth in time as the "biggest infrastructure stuff-up in Australia's history". Costs for the berth at Devonport in Tasmania's northwest, expected to be completed by October 2026, have blown out from $90 million to $493 million. The saga resulted in Michael Ferguson resigning as deputy premier and infrastructure minister and moving to the backbench in October 2024. The second new Spirit of Tasmania ship was handed over from its Finnish builder to operator TT-Line in June. TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone said the arrival of Spirit of Tasmania IV in Fremantle was a significant milestone. "Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are generational investments that will ultimately benefit the broader Tasmanian economy and the visitor economy," he said. "We are obviously very excited about the new vessels - their increased size is important, which will allow for greater capacity for passengers, vehicles, caravans and freight."
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Independent MLC Ruth Forrest would be treasurer in Tasmanian Labor government
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