New problems with Spirit of Tasmania ferries delay arrival again
Both of Tasmania's brand new Bass Strait ferries have "technical issues" and their departure for Australia will be delayed, the government has said.
The new Spirit of Tasmania ferries, Spirit IV and V, have been built in Finland by shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction and have been undergoing testing and preparations to travel to Tasmania.
Spirit IV has been docked in Scotland in recent months and was due to leave for Tasmania on Monday, May 26, but TT-Line said in a statement on Monday that inclement weather had prevented its departure.
In a statement this morning, Minister for Transport Eric Abetz said TT-Line had advised the government an issue with the liquefied natural gas systems on board both ships had been identified.
"RMC has advised TT-Line that the issue needs further assessment and rectification, and as a result Spirit IV will not depart for Australia until the work is completed," Mr Abetz said.
"The government is awaiting further details in relation to a new expected departure date, but it is understood that this work will take some time."
He said that any necessary repair costs will be covered under warranty with RMC, and that TT-Line had representatives on the ground in Finland and was engaging with the company.
"The ship will be relocated to Hobart as soon as possible for final fit-out," Mr Abetz said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Reality of renting in Australia: Roaches, mould, fear of eviction and rent hikes
Twenty per cent of Australian rentals have mouldy bathrooms, a new survey has found. Research from the Australian Council of Social Service and the University of NSW has found on top of the mouldy bathrooms, some 70 per cent of tenants are too scared to ask for repair work for fear of copping a rent increase. 'This report validates what renters across Australia already know. Despite extensive rental laws on paper, this report exposes the stark gap between legislation and reality for Australian renters,' National Association of Renters' Organisations spokesman Leo Patterson Ross said. 'Weak oversight of rental costs, property standards and industry practices have denied renters the benefits of a safe, stable and healthy home.' The social services council and university surveyed 1019 people who rent in the private sector across the country. The survey found 73 per cent of renters had a rent increase in the past year; a third of renters said a 5 per cent hike would make it difficult to cover rent. About one-in-three rental houses had cockroaches or ants, a quarter had leaks or flooding and 18 per cent had mould in the bathroom. Tenants fear that asking for repairs to be done can lead to rent hikes (68 per cent) or evictions (56 per cent). Social services council chief executive, Cassandra Goldia, said the housing market was failing. 'It is completely unacceptable that people in the private rental market are nervous about asking for essential repairs because they fear a rent increase or eviction notice,' Dr Goldie said. 'Everyone deserves to be able to live in secure homes without the constant fear of losing their home. 'We urge state and federal governments to work together to cap rent increases, abolish no-grounds evictions and boost social housing to ensure people on low incomes have safe, secure and affordable homes.' The university, social services council, National Shelter and the National Association of Renters' have identified five points to address concerns stemming from the report. First, legislated national limits on the amount and frequency of rent increases. No-grounds evictions and further renter protections are the second point the group says need to be addressed. Funding boosts to tenant advice services, raising income support and Jobseeker payments and finally a boost to the number of social houses are on the group's to-do list.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
ASX 200 finishes down on Monday as most sectors turn red
Now Playing Sky News Business Reporter Edward Boyd says the local sharemarket opened lower today and was down about 0.8 per cent by midday. 'Most sectors were in the red, led by industrials, mining stocks and tech companies,' Mr Boyd said. 'Banks and energy stocks were in the green though.' The market fought back in the afternoon – finishing down 0.36 per cent on Monday.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Fairly solid' auction clearance rates across Australia despite quieter winter
REA Group Senior Economist Angus Moore discusses the 'fairly solid' auction clearance rates across Australia. This comes amid Australia returning a national clearance rate of 63.2 per cent. 'Obviously very light volume in some cities, as we'd expect to see in winter,' Mr Moore said. 'But even in Sydney and Melbourne, which are our deepest and most liquid markets, particularly for auctions, we're still seeing pretty solid results.'
