SPIRIT OF TASMANIA 4
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Modification to LNG system completed
After the Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction has managed to rectify the issue which was detected with the liquid natural ga system of the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV'', and the ship has been undertaking sea trials, the Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff on June 22 revealed that the ferry was expected to leave Scotland and make its way to Australia in 10 days' time. The journey would take about six weeks, with the predicted arrival in Hobart in August, where it will receive final fit-outs. Its berth in Devonport is not expected to be completed until at least Oct 2026. It is unclear what will happen to the ferry until it can be used to transport passengers between Tasmania and the mainland. The two new ferries have a dual fuel system, meaning that they can run on both diesel and LNG. Upgrading the LNG facilities in Devonport will trigger more that $70 million in private investment and create 150 construction jobs and 15 ongoing roles. 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions are to be saved by switching to LNG.
Ferry left Edinburgh
On the morning of June 19, the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' left the Leith docks in Edinburgh. In Dec 2024 it was reported how the ship was set to be berthed in Edinburgh until next year, after it was discovered to be too big for its intended ports. The operator TT-Line confirmed it had been engaging with a broker to lease the ferry, although an agreement was not reached. The Tasmanian government then ordered the operator to relocate the ship. The situation sparked a political row in Australia after it was feared a new berth to accommodate the shop, and it's sister vessel 'Spirit of Tasmania V', may not be ready until late 2026 or 2027. Tasmania's infrastructure minister, Michael Ferguson, and the chairman of ferry operator TT-Line, which is state-owned, resigned due to the controversy in Aug 2024. TT-Line was paying A$47,534 (£24,031) per week to berth the ship at Forth Ports.
Issues with LNG system getting fixed
Technical tweaks were underway on both new Spirit of Tasmania vessels to fix issues with their liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems. On June 6 thr shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions had successfully rectified an issue with the LNG system on the 'Spirit of Tasmania V'. The fix has already been tested at the shipyard in Rauma and during sea trials. The same modification will now be made to the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' in the coming days. Once the work has been finished, theship will undergo testing during a port trial. If the modification proves successful, a multi-day sea trial is then planned before the ship eventually sets sail for Tasmania.
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