Passenger ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV handed over to TT-Line in Rauma

The passenger ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV, constructed in Rauma, was handed over to the Australian company TT-Line on Thursday. The complete vessel was presented to the media during the handover ceremony.

“This event has been sensitive and emotional,” remarked Mika Nieminen, CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), following the transfer. He praised the ferry and the construction process as impressive, stating, “The next one will be even better.” The Rauma shipyard has built two similar ferries. The first, Spirit of Tasmania V, was launched in July and is set for completion next year. Both vessels are experiencing delays beyond the original timeline.

“When this project began, just a week later, the war in Ukraine started. Timelines have been adjusted considering the circumstances agreed upon with the client, and they have been upheld,” Nieminen explained.

Both ferries will operate in challenging open-sea conditions in Bass Strait, Australia, and are designed specifically for that route. According to Nieminen, the complexity of the conditions and the understanding of those challenges is why these vessels are built at the Rauma shipyard. “This is the specialized expertise that Rauma possesses, which is not available at other shipyards worldwide. Although maritime conditions differ between Finland and Australia, we have found common expertise,” he added.

TT-Line has provided additional funding amid the shipyard’s economic challenges caused by inflation stemming from the war in Ukraine. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Finnish state investment company Tesi injected potentially up to €50 million into the shipyard. Additionally, TT-Line contributed another €50 million for completing the ferry construction, as reported by Australian media ABC News in May.