Spirit of Tasmania IV

Spirit of Tasmania IV on the Firth of Forth in December 2024
History
Name	Spirit of Tasmania IV
Owner	Spirit of Tasmania
Operator	Spirit of Tasmania
Port of registry	Devonport
Route	Devonport–Geelong
Ordered	April 2021
Builder	Rauma Marine Constructions, Rauma, Finland
Yard number	6009
Laid down	28 October 2022
Launched	27 October 2023
Maiden voyage	June 2024
In service	July 2026 (scheduled)
Identification	IMO number:  9936587
Status	Delivered
General characteristics
Class & type	Roll-on/roll-off ferry
Tonnage	47,994  GT 6,400  DWT
Length	212 m (695 ft 6 in)
Beam	31 m (102 ft)
Installed power	4 × Wärtsilä 9L46DF (4 × 10,305 kW) [1]
Speed	31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph) maximum speed, 26 knots service speed
Capacity	1,800 passengers 4,098 lanemeters

Spirit of Tasmania IV is a roll-on/roll-off ferry built by Rauma Marine Constructions in Rauma, Finland. It is to be operated by Spirit of Tasmania in Australia on the Bass Strait ferry route between Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania.

History

Spirit Of Tasmania IV docked in Leith, Scotland in May 2025

In April 2021 Rauma signed a contract with Spirit of Tasmania for the construction of two ships, the Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V . ^{[2] [3] [4]} Construction commenced on 28 February 2022 with a steel-cutting ceremony. ^[5] The keel was laid on 28 October 2022. ^[6] It will be the first ferry on the Bass Strait route to use LNG fuel. ^{[7] [8]} The two ferries will replace the Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II .

The ship commenced sea trials in June 2024. ^{[9] [10] [11]} In September 2024, it was handed over by Rauma to Spirit of Tasmania. ^{[12] [13]} The ferry was originally due to arrive in Tasmania in late 2024. ^[14] Due to Finland's cold winters and pack ice, in November 2024 it moved to the Port of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland for ongoing storage while attempts were made to lease it to another operator in the interim. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]}

It departed Leith in June 2025 arriving in Hobart in August for final fitting out. ^[19]

Wharf issues

Because of delays around the construction of an upgraded wharf at Devonport, the vessel is not scheduled to enter service until July 2026. ^[20] The wharfs' construction cost was $90 million, but by 2025 had been revised up to $495 million. ^[14]

References

1. "Spirit of Tasmania IV (9936587)" . Sea-web. S&P Global . Retrieved 12 February 2023.
2. for two new car and passenger ferries for TT-Line strengthens RMC’s order book significantly Rauma Marine Constructions 14 April 2021
3. Tasmania Orders Finnish Ferries After Studying Domestic Construction The Maritime Executive 14 April 2021
4. Two ordered from Rauma Ships Monthly June 2021 page 6
5. Construction on second new Spirit of Tasmania ferry under way Geelong Times 19 January 2023
6. Keel laying of Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry celebrated in Rauma shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions 28 October 2022
7. Construction of the world’s southernmost LNG-powered car and passenger ferry started at Rauma, Finland Archived 31 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Rauma Marine Constructions 28 February 2022
8. Keel laying of Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry celebrated in Rauma shipyard Helsinki Times 28 February 2022
9. "Spirit of Tasmania IV conducted its first sea trial". Shippax.
10. "Spirit of Tasmania IV - First sea trial deemed a success". Spirit of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
11. "Le finlandais Rauma Marine s'apprête à livrer le premier ferry de Spirit of Tasmania". Mer et Marine (in French). 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
12. TT-Line takes ownership of Spirit of Tasmania IV Spirit of Tasmania 13 September 2024
13. Builder hands over Spirit of Tasmania IV Daily Cargo News 13 September 2024
14. Powell, Sandy (28 May 2025). "New problems with Spirit ferries delay arrival in Tasmania again". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
15. Australian ferries fiasco ship to be mothballed in Edinburgh BBC News 30 October 2024
16. New Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry arrives in its temporary port in Scotland as home port of Devonport years away from being ready ABC News 4 December 2024
17. Scottish lay-up for Australian ferry Ships Monthly January 2025 page 11
18. Spirit of Tasmania operator lists challenges in leasing out new vessel as it explores European markets ABC News 5 December 2024
19. Tasmania Ferry Arrives Afloat issue 425 September 2025 page 32
20. Labor concerned new Spirit ferries may be leased out until Tasmanian berth is ready Pulse Tasmania 16 October 2024

External links

Media related to Spirit of Tasmania IV (ship, 2024) at Wikimedia Commons