Spirit of Tasmania IV Sails Into Devonport for the First Time, Greeted by Thousands

Spirit of Tasmania IV berthed at Devonport on Sunday morning, its first visit to the Bass Strait ferry's home port, as thousands gathered along the Mersey River to watch. TT-Line chairman Ken Kanofski said the two-day visit tests the vessel against the port's new shore gantry, with sister ship Spirit of Tasmania V to follow in September. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the new ships raise capacity by 40 per cent. The ferries were due in service in 2021, and the state parliament's Public Accounts Committee heard in May that the program had cost 717 million Australian dollars more than its original business case. Passenger sailings are targeted for October.