Fate of current Spirit of Tasmania ferries unclear days before final voyages

Spirit of Tasmania I and II sale details unclear days before final Bass Strait voyages In short: There are questions over where the Spirit of Tasmania I and II will be moored, and at what cost, after they are replaced. The Tasmanian government says talks to sell the vessels are "progressing well", but the state opposition has doubts. What's next? The ferries will be replaced by the new Spirit IV and V by the end of this month. With just over one week out from their final voyage between Devonport and Geelong, it is still not known what exactly will be happening to the two current Spirit of Tasmania vessels. TT-Line, the state-owned company which runs the ferries, has said a sale process is underway for Spirit I and II, which were launched nearly 25 years ago. But it would not say where the ferries would be moored, and what this would cost if they were not sold by the time Spirit IV and V began operating. The two new ferries have been moored in Geelong, and the Tasmanian government has expressed confidence in a deal being secured to sell the soon-to-be decommissioned ships soon. Earlier this year, a parliamentary inquiry heard the total cost of the new ferries was more than $700 million above forecast, which did not include the cost of berthing them in Scotland and Victoria while a new Devonport deeper water berth was constructed. Loading...'No berths' in Tasmania for old ships TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone confirmed Spirit I and II would stop sailing from October 24 and said a sale process has been underway for some time, with "interest in the ships". He ruled out the vessels being moored in the state. "Depending on when the ships are sold will determine where they are stored — there are no berths in Tasmania," Mr Carbone said. Labor infrastructure spokesperson Anita Dow expressed doubt that a sale was progressing. "They've said they've got interest from buyers in acquiring those old vessels, but they've gone quiet for some time now about whether there's actually been a successful follow-through," she said. "The government should be providing regular updates to the community about this process, about what these plans are for the old ships. "That's only fair and reasonable given the amount of public money that's involved." During a public accounts committee earlier this year, TT-Line said the cost of mooring the new ships ranged from $600,000 a month in Scotland to $900,000 a month in Geelong, but the company did not provide the total cost incurred. The same committee heard the company was expected to remain in debt until 2052. "Every month that they're being stored [is] a cost endured by the company that's going to eventually eat into the price that's paid for these vessels into the future," Ms Dow said. Minister declines to answer 'hypotheticals' When asked where Spirit I and II would be docked when Spirit IV and V came into service at the end of the month, government minister Jo Palmer declined to answer. "I'm not going to be getting into hypotheticals," Ms Palmer said. "As I say, the process is underway. There's been a great response to that, and we look forward to making that announcement when that process has gone through." The state's infrastructure and transport minister, Kerry Vincent, said the sale talks were going well. "The Tasmanian government is confident TT-Line will secure a deal to sell Spirits I and II as soon as possible," Mr Vincent said. "TT-Line are working hard with their brokers and negotiations are progressing well. [They] have discussed the sale process and provided updates." The minister said due to negotiations being underway, he would not comment further. [Image text:] SPIRIT OF TASMANIA