Spirit of Tasmania V has docked in Hobart for the first time, where its massive freight decks will be transformed into a public art gallery as part of this year’s Dark Mofo festival.
The new ferry left Scotland, where it was stored after being manufactured in Finland, in March to begin its journey to Tasmania.
The ship’s two vehicle decks, each 4.8 metres high and around 180 metres long, will now host five art installations over two weekends from June 11 to 14 and June 18 to 21.
Entry to the ship will be free as part of the Dark Park program.
Tasmania’s Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said the partnership was a unique opportunity.
“Dark Mofo is one of Tasmania’s most iconic events, attracting visitors from interstate and overseas while also drawing Tasmanians from every corner of the State and we are thrilled Spirit of Tasmania V will play a unique role in this year’s festival,” he said.
“Events like Dark Mofo are vital for our visitor economy, helping drive winter visitation, support local businesses and showcase the very best of Tasmania.”
Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite said the cavernous industrial space was unlike anything the festival had worked with before.
“Extending the festival onto Spirit of Tasmania V’s cavernous vehicle decks means we have been able to showcase some incredible artworks, at scale, in a unique space that we would not ordinarily have access to,” he said.
Twite said the festival team had long eyed ships passing through Hobart’s port but the opportunity had never arisen until now.
“These vessels are tied up in such long and delicate manoeuvres around their routes, so to grab a window like this is nigh on impossible,” he said.
The five works on display include roaming robot dogs by Lolo and Sosaku, an illuminated text installation by Chunxiao Qu, video works by Berna Reale and Regina José Galindo, and a visual montage with a techno soundtrack by Arthur Jafa.
TT-Line general manager Tom Wootton said the ship was already in Hobart for a local content fit-out, making the Dark Mofo partnership cost neutral for the company.
“We’re here anyway, so it’s just a pure opportunity to be able to offer our vehicle decks to be utilised while we’re carrying out the work that we were going to be carrying out anyway,” he said.
The fit-out includes more than 1,100 mattresses from AH Beard in Glenorchy, Tasmanian timber tabletops and artwork curated by Handmark Gallery.
Wootton said berthing costs were expected to sit at around $1.2 million per month, in line with Spirit of Tasmania IV’s stay last year.
Asked whether the ship should already be in service crossing Bass Strait rather than sitting in port, Vincent acknowledged past mistakes but said the focus was on getting both vessels operational by October.
“We can’t do anything about the past, we need to make the best of what we possibly can, and it is driving forward to be finished on time with the new estimates,” he said.
Vincent wouldn’t rule out further government funding for TT-Line if needed, saying you “can’t predict the future” but that the board’s financial modelling was sensible.
Ticket sales for the broader Dark Mofo program have been strong, with Twite expecting thousands of visitors to pass through the ship each night of the festival.
