The latest Spirit of Tasmania vessel is finally set to depart Europe and begin its journey to Tasmania in just over a week, ending a prolonged saga marked by mechanical issues and infrastructure setbacks.
Spirit of Tasmania IV was originally scheduled to leave Finland late last year, but delays in constructing its berth caused the ferry operator TT-Line to postpone plans. The ship was subsequently relocated to a port in Scotland, where it has remained for the past six months while the government considered leasing options.
The vessel was expected to depart in May; however, an issue was discovered with its liquid natural gas (LNG) system. Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction has since made modifications to address the problem, and the ship has been undergoing sea trials.
On Sunday, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that the ferry is now expected to leave Scotland within the next ten days and travel to Australia. The journey is estimated to take about six weeks, with an anticipated arrival in Tasmania by August.
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