New Spirit of Tasmania IV docks in Devonport for pre-service trials

After a prolonged programme plagued by schedule slips and a $717 million budget excess, the Spirit of Tasmania IV reached its home port of Devonport for a two-day trial period. Premier Jeremy Rockliff addressed the assembled crowd, describing the event as a new era for Tasmanian tourism and freight. TT-Line chair Ken Kanofski explained that the ship will undergo checks of its hydraulic and loading systems alongside the newly built gantry, a process previously rehearsed in Geelong.

Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent noted the nostalgic atmosphere, recalling earlier ferries such as the Princess and the Empress. Devonport Mayor Alison Jarman called the arrival the city’s “shining light,” while plans are in place to bring Spirit V to the port in September for complementary testing. Both vessels are on track to start ferrying passengers across Bass Strait in October.