The Spirit of Tasmania ferry service, a vital link between Tasmania and the mainland, will temporarily cease carrying paying passengers for a week in late October. This pause is scheduled from October 23 to October 30, 2026, to facilitate comprehensive staff training and operational trials of the new Spirit IV and Spirit V ferries, the ABC reported.
During this crucial transition period, employees will be assigned to familiarise themselves with the new, larger vessels, meaning they will be unavailable to service crossings on the existing Spirit I and Spirit II ferries. TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone described this transition as a “normal part of projects of this scale,” emphasising its necessity to ensure the new vessels, supporting infrastructure, and operational teams are fully prepared for a safe and reliable launch.
The new Spirit IV and Spirit V are set to replace the current fleet, offering significantly enhanced capacity. Each new ship can accommodate 1,800 passengers and boasts over 4,000 metres of lane space for vehicles, representing an approximate 40 per cent boost in overall passenger and freight capacity. This increased capacity is expected to cater to a growing demand, particularly from the self-drive market, including caravans and motorhomes.
For the Mersey Valley community, the trial week will see the Spirit IV and Spirit V conduct 12 freight crossings between Geelong and Devonport. These trials will also mark the first operational use of Devonport’s purpose-built Berth 3 by the new ferries. The new infrastructure at Berth 3 is slated for completion by the end of October 2026, four months ahead of its original schedule, according to TT-Line.
Following the transition week, the new ships are scheduled to commence carrying passengers from October 31, 2026, with bookings already open for these services. A notable change with the introduction of the new vessels is the cessation of daytime sailings, a decision attributed to the increased cargo and passenger capacity of the new fleet. Passengers travelling with pets will also benefit from enhanced facilities, including 18 pet-friendly cabins on each new ship and a secure, climate-controlled kennel area.
The ferry replacement program has experienced years of delays and cost overruns, with the overall project cost increasing significantly since its inception, as reported by the ABC. Spirit of Tasmania IV arrived in Devonport in August 2026 for initial testing, with its sister ship, Spirit V, expected to undergo similar trials in September.
For further details, readers are encouraged to refer to the original reporting by ABC News.