Devonport Tasmania (Australia)

Devonport is a ferry port and city located at Mersey River (northern Tasmania). The city has a population of around 30,000. Devonport and Burnie are northwestern Tasmania's largest seaports.

To the east of the city is Devonport Airport - approx 7 km (4 mi) or ~15 min drive. It serves 4 daily flights to Melbourne (Australia). The Port is also served by one rail line. Bus services are not offered on Sundays or holidays. Devonport's river ferry service was opened in 1854 and discontinued in 2014.

Passenger Ferry Terminal in Devonport is the southern terminus (homeport) for ferries to Melbourne/Geelong (crossing time 9-11 hours). The company serving this route is the state-owned TT-LINE Company/Spirit of Tasmania, operating the ships Tasmania 1 and Tasmania 2. In 2024-2025, on the Geelong-Devonport route will be deployed the newbuilds Tasmania 4 and Tasmania 5.

Freight-only shipping services are operated with three Ro-Ro vessels and connect Devonport-Melbourne-King Island. Port's main export cargoes are cement and tallow (mutton fat). Imports include petroleum, heavy oil (bunker fuel), fertilizers, caustic soda.

Power Boat racing is part of the annual Devonport Regatta - since 1958 held on each March's long weekend.

The Passenger Ferry Terminal in Devonport serves the Bass Strait ferry connections with Australia (Victoria), and via Melbourne to Sydney NSW. TT-LINE Tasmania operates 2 superfast ferries and offers 2 overnight crossings (each night) leaving simultaneously from Melbourne and Devonport.

In 2022 started East Devonport Port's AU$ 240 million infrastructure development project. The Quaylink project includes upgrades to the existing Terminals 1 and 2 (landscaping, streetscaping, enhanced barriers), the construction of a new ferry berth and berthing upgrades (a vehicle loading ramp and a dedicated freight facility) at Terminal 3, implementing modern technologies (3D vessel monitoring, upgrades to improve navigation, GPS/RFIS, charging stations for electric vehicle, renewable energy sources/solar panels).

When completed (in 2027), the upgrades will allow docking of larger vessels, which will increase the Port's freight capacity by ~40%. Additionally, annually are expected ~160,000 passengers, adding ~AU$200 million to Tasmania's economy. Devonport Quaylink comprises ~1300 direct and 700+ indirect jobs.

Devonport cruise port statistics

Following the Coronavirus crisis, for season 2022-2023, Devonport had booked/scheduled two cruise ship calls (out of Tasmania's total 148). TasPorts' cruise schedule displayed 78x visits for Hobart, 33x for Burnie, 23x for Port Arthur, 6x for Bell Bay, 6x for Coles Bay, 2x for Devonport.