Spirit of Tasmania IV begins 27,000 km voyage to Hobart from Scotland
Spirit of Tasmania IV has departed Scotland and is bound for Hobart, with its expected arrival announced as "late-August".
In a statement, ferry operator TT-Line said the new ferry left Leith on Monday and will "travel to Hobart via Gibraltar, Cape Verde Islands (off the western coast of Africa), Cape Town in South Africa, Port Louis in Mauritius and Fremantle in Western Australia".
It is a 14,857 nautical mile, or 27,515 kilometre voyage to Hobart.
Spirit IV and its sister ship Spirit V are the replacement vessels for the current Spirits I and II, which are almost 30 years old.
The ship was expected to leave in May, but an issue was detected with its liquid natural gas (LNG) system.
The Spirits replacement project has been troubled by delays and cost overruns, as well as the construction of their Devonport home berth not started in time for their arrival.
TT-Line said Spirit of Tasmania IV was "required to stay in Fremantle for four days for vessel importation into Australia, Customs and Immigration formalities, a crew change, bunkers and fresh stores".
TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone said Spirit IV was expected to complete the voyage to Fremantle in about six weeks, weather permitting.
"We expect the vessel will be alongside in Hobart in late August for the final fit-out of items including Tasmanian-made mattresses and table tops, cabin stores and artwork, and to undertake vessel crew training," Mr Carbone said.
"The training for our crew involves emergency response exercises, passenger muster simulation, firefighting drills, deployment of lifeboats and the mass evacuation systems."
Mr Carbone said the work to develop the new Spirit of Tasmania terminal at Devonport was "well underway".
"We have seen significant progress to the passenger vehicle areas and freight yards," he said.
"The team has begun the complex operation to install 27 marine piles for the wharf and the loading gantry. Nine have been completed."
Spirit of Tasmania V was last week handed over to TT-Line and remains in Finland.
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