TT-Line is considering an offer to lease out the first brand-new Spirit of Tasmania ship, which is currently docked in Scotland.
The state government confirmed on Friday that the ferry operator has “entered live commercial negotiations” having “received an offer from a party”.
A spokesperson said TT-Line is also “considering a number of other proposals from interested parties”.
“TT-Line therefore requires further time to complete these negotiations by the end of February,” they said.
“The ship will remain in Leith while these negotiations are underway.”
The vessel’s introduction to service in Tasmania has been delayed until as late as 2027 due to ongoing upgrades at Devonport’s port.
As of January 3, Spirit IV’s storage costs in Scotland averaged $23,915 per week, down from the $47,534 per week incurred during its first month.
Crewing costs total approximately $95,000 per week, while ancillary costs for December amounted to $250,106.
The estimated monthly expenditure for ancillary costs going forward is around $30,000.
The state government said there have been no changes to berthing or crewing costs since.
“Crewing costs in Tasmania would be significantly higher due to differing domestic requirements, resulting in increased onboard crew numbers,” a spokesperson said.
“Ancillary services are accrued on a ‘do and charge’ basis and would be charged regardless of the location of the vessel.”
