Spirit of Tasmania IV Ferry Launches Sea Trials from Leith, UK

The new passenger ferry, Spirit of Tasmania IV, has set sail on its multi-day sea trials from Leith Port in Edinburgh, Scotland. This milestone comes after months of being docked while engineers worked alongside the Finnish shipbuilder RMC/Rauma Marine Constructions and TT-Line Tasmania to address technical issues with the vessel’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems.

The purpose of these trials is to ensure the LNG system functions correctly under actual operating conditions. Spirit of Tasmania IV will return to Leith upon completing the trials, after which it is slated to embark on a transoceanic journey to Tasmania, assuming the tests are successful.

Earlier repairs on its sister ship, Spirit V, were mirrored on Spirit IV, which has been docked since November 2024 due to the limited infrastructure available in Tasmania. A planned departure in late May was delayed when issues with the LNG system were detected during trials.

Currently, there is no confirmed schedule for Spirit IV’s arrival in Australia. It is anticipated to take about 36 days to reach Hobart, where it will undergo final outfitting.

This situation highlights ongoing challenges, including delayed infrastructure development in Devonport, political scrutiny regarding shipbuilding delays, and increasing berthing costs in Leith.

The start of the sea trials marks a pivotal moment for Spirit IV. If successful, the ferry will be ready for its journey to Tasmania, joining the Spirit fleet once all operational systems are validated.

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