PORT AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING LINES

IMAGES POSTCARDS PHOTOGRAPHS EPHEMERA

OF

TT - LINE
1985 - CURRENT
In 1985 the Australian National Line decided to pull out of the Bass Strait ferry service
and the Federal Government, as part of a compensation package for not allowing the
Tasmanian Government to build a hydro-electric scheme on the Gordon River,
funded the setting up of a new Bass Straight ferry service. This was the
TT-line
Owned by the people of Tasmania and operated by a Board of Management reporting directly to the Tasmanian State Government. The first vessel acquired was the former European ferry, "Nils Holgerson", and renamed ABEL TASMAN This vessel was replaced in 1993 by the much larger "SPIRIT of TASMANIA". On the 1st November with the advent of the Spirit of Tasmania
TT-LINE Company Pty Ltd
Officially came into being. In 1998 a Tasmanian-built wave-piercing catamaran, DEVIL CAT, began a six-hour service from George Town, in northwest Tasmania, to Port Melbourne.
The twin ships SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (1) & (11) came into service in 2002 while SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (III) began sailing from Sydney to Devonport from 2004, the first in thirty years.

ABEL TASMAN

ABEL TASMAN ex NILS HOLGERSSON passenger/vehicle ferry built at HDW Nobiskrug, Rendsburg, Germany in 1975. She started on the Devonport-Melbourne route on 1/6/85 from Melbourne. In 1993 she was laid up following the arrival of the much larger Spirit of Tasmania. In 1994 she was sold to Ventouris Ferries and re-named the Pollux. In 1995 she was again sold, this time to Maritime Co. of Lesvos and operated by Nel Lines, re-named Theofilos

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

1st image personal collection
Consecutive images courtesy TT Line

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA 31,360 gross tons. She was built as the M/S Peter Pan (3) for the TT-line (Germany) at Schichau Seebeckwerft AG, Bremerhaven, in 1986. Purchased 1993 and renamed, she commence sailing November 1993. She sailed three return trips a week between Devonport, Tasmania and Station Pier in Melbourne, Victoria. The crossings were overnight and took approximately 15 hours. In 2002, Spirit of Tasmania was de-commissioned, and sold to the Fjord Line company in Norway and Renamed Fjord Norway. Since Fjord Norway has been purchased by Danish shipping company DFDS Seaways. Her new name is Princess of Norway. She joined the DFDS Seaways fleet on 8 November 2006
Built: Schichau Seebeckwerft AG, Bremerhaven in 1986. Gross tonnage: 31,360. Net tonnage: 16,200. Lbd: 161 x 27.6 x 6.2 metres. Machinery: 4 MAK diesels of 26,655 hp. Speed: 21 knots. Passengers: 1,700. Cabin berths: 1,320 Vehicle capacity: 550 cars. Vehicle access: bow and stern

DEVIL CAT

DEVIL CAT During the Summers of 1997/98 and 2001/02 the Incat50 more familiary known as "Devil Cat" was added to suppliment the trans tasman peak demand of holiday makers. It could carry up to 740 passengers and 200 vehicles. Although the Devil Cat took just six hours to travel between George Town and Devonport, it was often delayed by bad weather. Once the waves were over a certain height, the Devil Cat couldn't be taken out. Hence, the reason for upgrading to a larger more reliable ship that sails every day regardless of the weather.

FACTSHEET Launched on 7 November 1998 from the Hobart, Tasmania shipyard of Incat. Builder: Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd. Length overall - 96.00 metres. Length waterline - 86.00 metres. Beam overall (ex fenders) - 26.00 metres Draft - 3.70 metres. Hull beam - 4.50 metres. Total deadweight - 800 tonnes. Speed - @ Lightship condition - 50+ knots. Speed with deadweight @ 800 tonnes - 37.5 knots Fuel capacity 4 x 30m3 - 4 x integral aluminium tanks. (An additional long range tank of approximately 170m3 capacity provided in each hull). Main Engines - Four Caterpillar 3618 marine diesel engines. 7200 kW each @ 1030 rpm. Transmission - Four Reintjes VIJ6831 Gearboxes. Hydraulics - Three hydraulic power packs, one forward and two aft, to run mooring capstans, anchor, winch, ride control, steering/reverse, rescue boat cranes. Alternators Distribution - Four x Caterpillar 3406B 230 kW (nominal) marine, brushless,self excited alternators supplying 415V, 50 Hz. 3 phase. Water Jets - Four Lips 150 D waterjets configured for steering and reverse.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (1) SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (11)
Port Melbourne SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (111)
Sydney

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (1) & (11) Sisterships built Kvaerner Masa-Yards Finland. 194.3m X 25.0m. 29,338 tonnes. Purchased from SuperFast ferries in Greece - formerly Superfast III and Superfast IV. They commenced sailing 1st September 2002. Average speed 27 knots. Crossing time 10-11 hours (approx.)
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (111) Purchased 2003. She was also a Superfast ferry, formerly called Superfast II she was built for Superfast Ferries at Schichau Seebeckwerft AG, Bremerhaven in 1995. Under TT Line she commenced service 13th January 2004 between Darling Harbour and Devonport taking 22 hours for the journey. Although popular, rising operational costs and out of season downturn in traffic caused the need to withdraw her from service. Her final voyage from Sydney was on 27th August 2006. She was sold to Corsica Ferries to sail under the Italian flag as Mega Express 4. The sale was finalised on 6th September 2006

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (1) SPIRIT OF TASMANIA
(1) & (11) SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (111)
Sydney

Above three scans courtesy of TT Line

SPIRIT 1 & 11 COURSE Artists view SPIRIT 111 COURSE

ESSENTIAL DATA

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA (1) & (11)

Builder: Kvaerner Masa-Yards Finland. Year built 1998
Ship type RO/RO Passenger V/L. Class American Bureau of Shipping.
Overall length 194.33 metres. Overall width 25 metres.
Gross tonnage 29,338 tonnes. Dead weight 5651 tonnes
Engines 4 x 4 Stroke single acting turbo charged diesel of 10,560kw each.

Connected to twin variable pitch propellors via reduction gearboxes 510/147 RPM
Distances -
Melbourne to Devonport 232 nautical miles or 429 kilometres
(1 nautical mile equals 6,080 feet/1,852 metres/1.85 kilometres)
Crossing time and speed
First commercial crossing 1 September 2002
Average speed 27 knots. A knot equals 1 nautical mile per hour
Crossing time 10 - 11 hours (approximate)
Capacity
Passengers* 716 - 1020. Number of seats 272. Total berths* 444 - 748. Berths with facilities All
Number of cabins 220
Vehicle lane metres 2300
*152 cabins can be sold as two, three or four berths. Figures provided for overnight sailing.
Accommodation levels
• 59 porthole twin berths. • 71 porthole three/four berths. • 81 inside three/four berths
• 8 deluxe • 2 disabled • 146 business class seats • 126 cruise seats
Terminals
Tasmania The Esplanade, East Devonport
Victoria Station Pier, Port Melbourne
Crew
Approximately 70 crew members on board, including franchise staff.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO DIRECTLY TO TT LINE
http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/mediaroom/documents/CorporateMediaKit.pdf