NEWS Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry enters second month of storage at Leith, Scotland

[whoosh]

The newly built Spirit of Tasmania IV will continue to be stored in a Scottish port for at least another month.

The Tasmanian government made the announcement in its regular update of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry replacement project.

Scottish mothballing of Tasmanian ferry continues

 

[ChatGPT]

The ABC News article "Spirit of Tasmania IV ferry enters second month of storage at Leith, Scotland" discusses the complications surrounding the Spirit of Tasmania IV, one of Tasmania's new ferries, which remains mothballed in a Scottish port as efforts to lease it out continue. Here’s what the article reveals:

Key Details:​

1. Extended Storage in Scotland:
   • The Spirit of Tasmania IV will remain at the port of Leith, Scotland, for at least another month while a specialist broker works to find a leasing option.
   • The weekly storage fee has decreased to $23,915, less than half the cost of the first 30 days, which incurred a weekly charge of $47,534, plus ancillary costs.
2. Challenges in Leasing:
   • The ferry cannot yet operate on its intended Devonport-to-Geelong route until infrastructure in Devonport, Tasmania, is completed—a process not expected to finish until 2027.
   • TT-Line, which operates the ferry, hired a European ship broker (Clarksons) in late December after earlier efforts indicated there was "not a strong likelihood" of success in leasing the ferry.
3. Political Debate:
   • The Tasmanian state opposition has called for the ferry to be berthed in Tasmania instead. Suggested locations include Hobart or other state ports, to avoid the costs involved with keeping the ship overseas.
   • Criticism focuses on the monthly cost of storing the vessel, which includes $380,000 in crew costs, $190,000 in port fees, and additional expenses like ancillary costs and broker fees.
4. Government’s Position:
   • The Tasmanian government has argued that keeping the ship in Scotland offers the best chance of finding a leasing opportunity.
   • Stating that crew costs would be higher if the vessel were berthed in Tasmania due to domestic crewing regulations, the government maintains this current arrangement is more cost-effective.
5. The Way Forward:
   • Advice from the ship broker, Clarksons, regarding leasing opportunities is expected by the end of January.
   • Should there be no viable leasing options, the ferry may be returned to Tasmania.

Broader Context:​

This prolonged storage period reflects the complex logistical and financial challenges of large-scale ferry replacement projects. Delays in necessary port infrastructure have compounded the issue, leaving the ferry in limbo, with mounting costs and political fallout.
If you'd like further insights into the financial or operational aspects of this scenario, feel free to ask!

 

[ussnorway]

got to love a goverment spending program... i mean they clearly spend at least two minutes on research before picking option B