The second new Spirit of Tasmania ferry has successfully been launched in Finland overnight.
Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker travelled to the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard to officially name and launch the vessel at a traditional ceremony on Friday.
Governor Baker is the godmother of the new ferry, RMC said, the second of two new vessels ordered from the shipyard.
“I am obviously delighted and honoured to have been asked to play this role for this vessel on behalf of the state of Tasmania,” Baker said.
“The new Spirit of Tasmania vessels will be a major contributor to Tasmania’s visitor economy and the broader Tasmanian economy for many years to come.”
The new ferries will replace the existing ships that travel the Bass Strait between Geelong and Devonport daily.
Spirit of Tasmania Managing Director Bernard Dwyer, who to made the trip to the other side of the world, said he was delighted to witness the launch.
“The new vessels are the first purpose-built for Spirit of Tasmania for operation on Bass Strait,” he said.
“While they look very similar to the current vessels, they are much bigger and have substantially larger capacity for passengers, passenger vehicles and freight.”
The new ferries will be 212 metres long and 31 metres wide, compared to the current ships that are 194.33 metres long and 25 metres wide.
The first new ferry, Spirit of Tasmania IV, will be delivered to Tasmania this August, while the Spirit of Tasmania V will be completed next spring.
RMC CEO Mika Nieminen said he was “extremely proud” of the progress in the construction of both vessels.
“The project we are delivering for TT-Line Company is also nationally significant, as it is one of the largest individual export deals between Australia and Finland,” he said.
RMC will now shift to equipment assembly, interior plumbing, electrical work and interior design on the ship, as well as work within the vessel’s engine room and car deck.
