TT-LINE Tasmania’s new ship Spirit of Tasmania IV is currently in the North Sea en route from Rauma Finland to its temporary berth in Leith/Edinburgh (Scotland UK), while uncertainties about its interim costs remain unresolved.
Constructed by the Finnish shipbuilder RMC/Rauma Marine Constructions, the 2024-built vessel was originally slated for operations in Tasmania Australia. However, delays in completing port infrastructure in Devonport have pushed its arrival to early 2027.
Until then, the ship will dock in Leith for at least 30 days, with TT-Line exploring lease options for the vessel - and potentially its sistership Spirit of Tasmania V, to international operators.
Kym Sayers (TT-Line's CEO) stated that the specifics of berthing costs at Leith remain under negotiation and are commercially confidential. These details are expected to be finalized after the vessel’s arrival at the port.
A report from the Department of State Growth in October estimated that storing both ferries at Leith until mid-2026 could cost ~AUD 24,3 million (USD 15,8M/EUR 15M/GBP 12,4M). This has prompted calls for transparency, with opposition members urging the government to disclose the financial implications of the delay. Premier Jeremy Rockliff assured that the details of berthing arrangements would be made public once negotiations are completed, adding that efforts are being made to lease the ships promptly to optimize taxpayer investments.
The crossing from Rauma to Leith is expected to take ~3,5 days. TT-Line confirmed that the trip offered an opportunity to conduct extensive sea trials. According to Sayers, these trials aim to evaluate Spirit IV’s systems, performance, and capabilities under real-world conditions, marking a critical step before the ship enters full operation.
Originally projected to cost AUD 850 million, the program for Spirit IV and Spirit V has faced cost overruns, including an additional AUD 81 million disclosed earlier this year. Despite these increases, TT-Line has highlighted commitments to local content, including final fittings such as mattresses, tabletops, and artwork to be installed in Hobart. The training of crew will also take place locally.
Meanwhile, Spirit V, still under construction in Finland, is ~86% complete. The vessel was recently subjected to hurricane-force winds, which caused it to break free from its outfitting quay. Subsequent inspections revealed no significant damage, although the shipbuilder, RMC, plans to drydock the vessel for further evaluations.
TT-Line is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee to address the management of the ferry replacement program and the associated delays, ensuring further scrutiny of its handling of the Spirit series upgrade.