Arabic version: سبيريت أوف تاسمانيا 4 يصل إلى جيلونغ بعد عطل في التوجيه

According to ABC News, Spirit of Tasmania IV arrived in Geelong about four hours late on Thursday after a fault was identified as the vessel prepared to transit through Port Phillip Heads. The ferry, on its fifth official sailing, required a tugboat escort through Port Phillip Bay and docked at about 10:20am.

Spirit IV had left Devonport the previous night and was due to dock at Geelong at 6am. Passenger Mitchell Bruce said an announcement initially put the expected arrival at about 8am, before the captain said the harbour had delayed entry until about 10:30am. A track map showed the vessel making several turns outside Point Lonsdale and further turns inside the bay.

TT-Line said the vessel’s master identified the fault on Thursday morning. Chief executive Chris Carbone said tug support was considered appropriate and that the delay occurred because the tug had to travel from Geelong to the ship. The operator said it was investigating the matter, had engaged technicians to diagnose the issue and would advise the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, as is standard practice.

The ABC understands the fault relates to a steering issue involving the ship’s autopilot. It follows a steering problem on Spirit V during a trial voyage off Point Henry in Port Phillip Bay on October 26, which is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The ATSB said Spirit V’s autopilot responded slowly during a required starboard turn, then could not arrest the turn after settings were adjusted. Control was switched to manual before the ship was stopped and later resumed its outbound voyage. A final report is expected in the second quarter of next year.

Spirit IV and Spirit V have replaced TT-Line’s two older vessels. The Tasmanian government’s ferry replacement program has faced cost overruns and infrastructure delays, with a parliamentary inquiry in May hearing the capital program cost $717 million more than originally expected.