Labor is concerned that the new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-compatible Spirit of Tasmania ferries will be powered by “dirty old diesel” when they enter service.
Leader Dean Winter said it would be a “huge backward step” to fail to build the promised facilities in Tasmania and instead rely on refuelling the vessels in Victoria.
“The last thing we want to have is our new ships finally arriving in 2027 without adequate refuelling infrastructure,” he said.
“Tasmanians want to see as much local content put into these ships as possible and by putting LNG refuelling here in Devonport, that means that we can actually provide the fuel for these ships that adds to local content and creates local jobs.”
The first of the two new ferries, Spirit IV, is currently docked 17,000 kilometres away in Scotland.
A decision on whether it will be leased to an international operator is expected in the coming days.
Business, Industry and Resources Minister Eric Abetz said TT-Line management and the newly appointed board were “working through these issues as we speak”.
“Labor undoubtedly knows that,” he said.
“These ships are able to be run on bunker fuel or diesel and LNG and so it stands to reason that the refuelling needs of both types of fuel will be dealt with by the management of TT-Line.”
