Arabic version: سبيريت 4 تبدأ اختبارات ديفونبورت قبل بدء الخدمة في أكتوبر

According to ABC News, Spirit of Tasmania IV has arrived at its home port of Devonport for two days of testing before it is expected to begin carrying passengers across Bass Strait in October. The vessel’s first arrival drew crowds to Devonport’s Mersey River, following years of delays and cost overruns in the ferry replacement program.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff was among those welcoming the ship to the north-west coast. He said he had been at the port from about 7am with “thousands of other Tasmanians”, and described the arrival as a potential new era for tourism, freight and Tasmania. He said people were excited and proud as Spirit IV sailed up the river and reversed into the gantry.

The two new ferries, Spirit IV and sister ship Spirit V, had initially been planned to enter service in 2021. In May, the state parliament’s Public Accounts Committee heard that the program, which began in 2018, had cost $717 million more than forecast in the original business case. Most of the overrun related to the new berth at Devonport.

TT-Line chair Ken Kanofski said Spirit IV would remain in Devonport until tomorrow afternoon while crews test the vessel’s hydraulics, loading and management systems. “The purpose is really to test the gantry and the ship together in a live environment,” he said. The ship will then return to Victoria, while Spirit V is scheduled to come to Devonport for gantry testing in September.

Mr Kanofski said the new ships remained on track for October passenger sailings. Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the gathering carried both celebration and nostalgia, with some attendees recalling earlier vessels including the Princess of Tasmania and Empress of Australia. Devonport Mayor Alison Jarman said the new ship would be the city’s “shining light”.