The keel-laying of the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry was celebrated at the Rauma shipyard
Keel-down ceremony Spirit of Tasmania IV was celebrated today at the Rauma shipyard. The ceremony started the construction of the ship on the construction pier. Rauma Marine Constructions is building two Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferries for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company, which will operate on the challenging open sea route between mainland Australia and Tasmania. The project is the largest single foreign sale between Finland and Australia and it means a strong year 2023 for RMC.
The keel-laying of the Spirit of Tasmania IV, which is being built for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company, was celebrated at the Rauma shipyard today.
TT-Line, a major player in maritime traffic between mainland Australia and Tasmania, has ordered two identical Spirit of Tasmania vessels from RMC. The extensive project is the largest single foreign sale between Australia and Finland. The project will create a total of approximately 3,500 person-years at the Rauma shipyard.
“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the design and manufacture of the Spirit of Tasmania ships has progressed according to the agreed schedule. The keel-laying of the project’s first ship is a great proof of this. The good progress of the project is also a sign of a strong next year. We expect our turnover to grow significantly in 2023”, says Mika HeiskanenCEO of RMC.
Spirit of Tasmania Managing Director and CEO Bernard Dwyer says it’s an exciting time for the company.
“This keel-laying is another important milestone for the project, which brings us one step closer to the passage of new ships through the Bass Strait. We are excited to join our partners RMC for this occasion and celebrate the construction of the Spirit of Tasmania IV follow-up in time for delivery in the first quarter of 2024.
“The arrival of two new ferries in Australia in 2024 is a significant moment for the company,” says Dwyer.
“Forty per cent larger than current vessels, the investment in these vessels is a once-in-a-generation event that will bring significant benefits to Tasmania’s visitor economy and the wider economy.”
The ship’s keel weighs 230 tons
The traditional keel-laying ceremony celebrates the official first step in the construction of a ship, which practically marks the birth of the ship. The ship’s keel piece is lowered onto the construction pier and the usual lucky coins are placed under it. Spirit of Tasmania’s massive L-222 keel weighs around 230 tons.
Currently, ships named Spirit of Tasmania carry approximately 450,000 passengers annually. The new vessels operate on a very challenging route through Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania. The ferries are specially designed for this route.
The ships can accommodate 1,800 passengers and their gross tonnage is approximately 48,000 tons. The new ships replace sister ships in Finland from the 1990s.
Construction of the first vessel will be completed at the beginning of 2024 and the second at the end of 2024.
HT
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) is one of Europe’s leading shipbuilding companies. The company from Rauma, founded in the summer of 2014, is completely owned by Finns. RMC specializes in the construction and maintenance of car and passenger ferries, icebreakers and defense vessels. More information at www.rmcfinland.fi.
Spirit of Tasmania is one of Australia’s most iconic travel experiences and an important link between mainland Australia and the island state of Tasmania. The twin ships Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II operate overnight across Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania. Carrying more than 450,000 passengers annually, Spirit of Tasmania is widely recognized for its contribution to Australia’s tourism industry and its contribution to Australia’s economic development by providing world-class passenger and cargo services. Since its inception, Spirit of Tasmania has continued to grow steadily through its commitment to safety, reliability and providing unparalleled customer service. www.spiritoftasmania.com.au