Spirit of Tasmania IV arrived in Cape Town yesterday, marking another milestone in its marathon 14,857-nautical-mile journey from Scotland to Tasmania.
The 212-metre ferry is now preparing up for its next stop in Port Louis, Mauritius, before heading across the Indian Ocean to Fremantle.
It is expected to reach Hobart in late August.
The vessel set sail from Leith on June 30 following a series of delays caused by leasing complications, issues with its liquefied natural gas system and poor weather.
So far, it has made port calls in Gibraltar and the Cape Verde Islands as it cruises towards Western Australia.
Once in Australia, the ferry will spend four days undergoing mandatory customs and immigration checks before continuing on to Tasmania.
Built in Finland, the ferry can carry up to 1,800 passengers and includes 301 cabins. It will traverse the Bass Strait in 9.5 to 11.5 hours.
Ongoing construction delays at Devonport’s new berth mean the vessel is not expected to enter service until late 2026.
