Spirit of Tasmania V has left Hobart after five weeks of local fit-out work, marking another step towards the long-delayed launch of Tasmania’s two new Bass Strait ferries.
The ship departed the Port of Hobart today and will travel to its Victorian home port of Geelong for further gantry testing.
It will then sail to Williamstown for hull-strengthening work.
During its stay in Hobart, the vessel also opened its cavernous vehicle decks to nearly 80,000 people as an art venue for the Dark Mofo festival.
TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone said it had been a busy five weeks.
More than 100 contractors from over 30 Tasmanian companies worked on fitting out the ship.
Their work included installing more than 300 tabletops made by Fairbrother, over 1,100 mattresses manufactured by AH Beard in Glenorchy and Tasmanian artwork curated by Handmark Gallery.
Crews also fitted outdoor seating, arcade games in the teen lounge and beer and post-mix systems, as well as completing plumbing and upholstery work.
The ship’s marine evacuation system was also successfully deployed and tested.
Sister ship Spirit of Tasmania IV will move from Williamstown to Station Pier before heading to Devonport in late August for “wet testing” of the gantry and automatic mooring units.
Both ships are scheduled to begin carrying passengers across Bass Strait from October 31.
That timeline depends on the new Devonport berth being completed, which is also expected in October.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was “looking forward to having both our new Spirits up and running in the near future”.
