TT-Line has appointed European ship broker Clarksons to lead the leasing process of the newest Spirit of Tasmania ferry.
Spirit IV is currently docked at the Port of Leith in Scotland at a cost of around $47,000 per week, a figure that excludes ancillary costs.
The ferry will not be able to operate across the Bass Strait until early 2027, when the necessary birthing infrastructure in Devonport is completed.
Appearing at a scrutiny hearing in early December, TT-Line Interim Chair Damien Bugg said there had been limited leasing interest in the new ferry.
“We’d engaged with a broker and that broker has given us some indications of market, but we feel that to be completely thorough, we should explore a range of brokers and what their field of coverage is,” Bugg said.
“On what we had to date from that broker, I would have to say not a strong likelihood, because we have limited coverage back from that broker.”
Deputy Labor Leader Anita Dow said the chance of finding a lease is “shrinking every day” as Scottish port fees tick over $100,000.
“It doesn’t make sense to keep spending this kind of money keeping them in Scotland and Tasmanians still don’t know the full costs,” she said.
Dow suggested the state government cut its losses and bring the vessels back to Tasmania.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to do so until leasing has been explored, saying current decisions have been made in the “best interest of the Tasmanian taxpayer”.
“If leasing is an option, it’s a good option in terms of value for money, then we’ll take that opportunity,” he said on Triple M on Wednesday.
“If we cannot get the lease arrangements in place, then of course, we’ll bring the Spirit back to Tasmania.”
