Near the end of last year , on 27 October 2023 , Rauma shipyard celebrated the launch and christening ceremony of the ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV .
M / S SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V ” We at Rauma work every day to
ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION enhance our expertise in shipbuilding , The production of the vessel ’ s sister ship , striving to become stronger and more Spirit of Tasmania V , was celebrated with modern ”, Mr . Mika Nieminen – CEO and a traditional steel cutting ceremony in President of the RMC shipyard – noted at December 2022 . the ceremony .
Another milestone was reached Once in operation , the new vessels when the keel laying ceremony for Spirit will sail on a challenging route across the of Tasmania V took place at the RMC shipyard on May 17 , 2023 . and Devonport , Tasmania . The distance
Bass Strait between Geelong , Victoria ,
In a long-standing shipbuilding tradition , recently minted 2023 Australian km , or 242 nautical miles . The ferries have
between Geelong and Devonport is 448
and Finnish coins were placed in the keel been specially designed for this route . before the first block was lowered into TT-Line Company is a significant position . The coins symbolise good fortune for the builders and all those who will mainland Australia and Tasmania , and the
player in maritime transport between
sail on the vessel . Eventually , the Spirit of shipbuilding project is the largest individual foreign sale between Australia and Fin-
Tasmania V is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024 . land . The TT-Line employs over 600 people and transports over 450,000 passengers
HEADING FOR THE BASS STRAIT annually . Spirit of Tasmania is widely recognised for its contribution to the Aus-
Near the end of last year , on 27 October 2023 , Rauma shipyard celebrated the tralian tourism industry and for fostering economic development by providing launch and christening ceremony of the ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV , the first of two world-class passenger and freight services . identical car and passenger ferries that are After the launch , the work was now under construction . shifted from hull construction to equipment assembly and interior work , with the focus on finishing plumbing and electrics as well as interior design for the hotel area . Furthermore , the work around the vessel ’ s engine room and car deck was continued . The equipment assembly phase continued with the implementation of various systems , culminating in sea trials .
INNOVATIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY
The new Spirit of Tasmania vessels will be the first ferries to operate in Australia featuring Tasmanian-made marine fire safety insulation material .
Designed and manufactured in Hobart specifically for steel passenger vessels by CBG Systems , the material lines the walls of steel ships , protecting them in the event of a fire . The new fire safety material had been more than two years in the making .
As a part of an international requirement around ship safety , passenger ferries must be lined with a passive fire protection product . In the event of a fire , the Rapid Access Composite system contains the fire onboard the vessel for one hour , allowing for the safe evacuation of passengers . CBG Systems has worked alongside the RMC shipyard to deliver the insulation materials for the project .
FINAL TESTS BEFORE COMPLETION
As the work has continued , the shipbuilding for the Spirit of Tasmania IV is nearing its final stages .
On 1st March 2024 , the engines of this ship were started for the very first time . This was a pivotal moment in the construction of the first of the two new ferries at Rauma Marine Constructions shipyard .
The engine start signified the beginning of comprehensive system testing aboard the vessel . Each one of the four dual-fuel main engines were started one by one over the weeks that followed .
This new milestone brought the final completion of the ship one step closer again . Before too long , ship enthusiasts with telescopes can spot a brand new ship on the horizon at the Bass Strait . n
26 seatec 2024