Devonport's Spirit Quay has officially opened ahead of the first sailings of the Spirit of Tasmania IV and V. The facility includes a 740-tonne gantry with four steel ramps linking the new ships to concrete loading ramps. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the quay will support growth in passenger numbers and freight across Bass Strait. Minister Kerry Vincent said more than half the construction work was delivered by local partners. The ferries will make their maiden voyages on 31 October.
Police have started an investigation after a man allegedly rushed the wheelhouse of a ferry as it docked at Manly Wharf on Friday afternoon. Crew believe the man was affected by drugs and was trying to take control of the vessel. The captain was left to dock alone while crew restrained the man. The man left after the wharf planks were lowered. Transdev Sydney Ferries says an internal investigation is underway and it is working with NSW Police.
TT-Line is investigating a navigational issue that caused the Spirit of Tasmania I to go off course and make a U-turn near Point Lonsdale on October 15. The ferry operator said the problem was with the ship's navigation equipment, but it is unclear whether it was a technical fault or human error. The vessel arrived safely in Geelong about 20 minutes late. TT-Line has reported the incident to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and will conduct an independent review.
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SeaLink's ferry service to Kangaroo Island has shut for three days while crews install new boat ramps at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. The work prepares the island for the larger ferry Wanggami, which is expected to begin operating later this month. Locals have described the delays in the arrival of the new vessels as frustrating, though many say they expect to cope. SeaLink has also taken legal action in the Federal Court to have a second ferry, Ruwi, delivered from a shipyard in Indonesia. Limited services are due to resume on Friday, with SeaLion 2000 the only ferry operating.
A boat that became stuck during transport blocked a major Tasmanian highway on Friday. Tasmania Police said the Channel Highway was completely blocked at Gardners Bay, south of Cygnet, at its intersection with Gospel Hall Road. There was no alternate route, and heavy equipment was being sourced to move the vessel. The wooden ferry, the Emmalisa, was built around 1947 and is under restoration. At 1:46pm, police said the boat had been removed from the road and traffic was flowing freely again.
Crew members on the new Spirit of Tasmania V fell ill with shigella after food was taken on in South Africa, according to a union. The Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers says the majority of the crew became unwell by the time the ship reached Mauritius. With several engineers unwell, the ship sailed with fewer fit crew, and the union says engineers were denied a shorthanded allowance. The employer, ASP Ships Group, says the ship's classification meant extra crew were not required and that crew received appropriate medical care.
Maritime unions have criticised a Brisbane City Council proposal to install licensed bars on 10 double-decker CityCat ferries. The council is exploring a pilot program and hopes to trial it next year, though details such as opening hours and staffing are still being worked out. The Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Maritime Officers Union say the plan was made without consulting crew. They warn it would add workload and safety risks for crews already under strain in a long-running pay dispute with RiverCity Ferries.
Sealink has started legal action in the Federal Court to have the second of two new Kangaroo Island ferries delivered from a shipyard in Indonesia. Sea Transport SA founder Stuart Ballantyne said he was surprised, as the contract was cancelled when the ferry was nearly ready to leave the shipyard. All ferry services will halt for three days next week so new vehicle ramps can be installed at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. The first new ferry will start later this month alongside an older vessel. The matter returns to court on November 13.
More than 70 passengers have been stranded on a drifting ferry in Solomon Islands waters since Friday. The MV Awka lost power between the islands of Anuta and Vanikoro when its engine failed. A bulk carrier reached the vessel on Sunday and began transferring water and food. Aircraft from Australia and New Caledonia have dropped supplies, including life rafts and communications equipment. Passenger John Tua said everyone on board is safe and calm, but the ship has run out of water.
Searoad Ferries is running a lottery offering Victorians a $30 return trip for a car and passenger across Port Phillip Bay. The promotion, running until 19 November, aims to help households manage cost-of-living pressures. Winners are chosen weekly and must claim their tickets within a set timeframe. The ferry service connects the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, offering access to coastal towns and attractions.
