The Government is getting on with the job and delivering two new, next generation Spirits for Tasmania to boost our tourism industry and support our exporters.
Today's announcement by TT-Line that it has signed a contract with European shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) to build the new Spirits of Tasmania is an exciting milestone.
This is by far the single biggest infrastructure investment ever by a Tasmanian Government, which we have brought forward by two years with the new Spirits expected to be ready for sailings in 2021.
We have reduced fares and increased sailings to bring more visitors to Tasmania, and to get our fine produce to the world.
The Government’s strategy included a comprehensive refurbishment of the vessels’ interiors.
The results have eclipsed all expectations, with a 31.5 per cent increase in passengers on the Spirits in just four years while delivering a 15 per cent real reduction in average fare prices.
Record freight volumes have also been achieved for the benefit of our exporters and primary producers who favour the Spirits for their “last to leave, first to arrive’’ service.
This has resulted in record profits, with the dividends sensibly invested into a special legislated fund for vessel replacement - a fund that Labor opposed – and enabling earlier replacement.
The next generation vessels will be more than 30 per cent larger than the current Spirits, with an even bigger increase in passenger and freight capacity.
Every single sailing of the next generation Spirits will be able to bring an additional 500 visitors, 115 additional passenger vehicles and 85 additional freight trailers.
These new ships will take things to the next level for our booming tourism sector and will help us in achieving our plan to get more tourists here, staying longer and spending more while they are here. On average travellers on the Spirits stay nine nights longer than air travellers, spend $1,200 more and stay at over twice as many places while they are here.
While it is unfortunate that there are no Australian shipyards with the capacity to build the new Spirits, we will where suitable, use Tasmanian products in the fit-out.
We congratulate the TT Line Board on the successful outcome of what has been the largest single procurement process in Tasmania's history, and the former Minister for Infrastructure Rene Hidding for his leadership and work in the ship replacement program.