Demanding routes and fierce conditions found in the Bass Strait served as the key reference framework for the design and building of the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’ class ropaxes.
These ropaxes, which are vital to Tasmania’s foreign trade, tourism and human mobility, incorporate several pioneering and unique innovations, builder Rauma Marine Construction (RMC) said.
Close co-operation with the Tasmanian client has ensured the success of this project, RMC added.
The first of the world’s two southernmost regularly operating LNG-powered ropaxes, ‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’ was recently delivered.
‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’ is intended to serve both freight and passenger transport along the open sea route between Australia and Tasmania.
Her sistership, ‘Spirit of Tasmania V’, is due to be completed in the spring of 2025.
The two ships will significantly increase the passenger, vehicle and freight capacity, while also enabling operator, Spirit of Tasmania, to better meet its customer needs and environmental aspects.
RMC’s order from owner TT-Line marked the largest single export deal between Australia and Finland. The contract was signed in 2021.
At the start of the project, five Spirit of Tasmania employees and their families relocated to Finland. The technical and major geopolitical challenges encountered during the years of construction have been overcome through a co-operative and discussion approach to resolving issues, RMC claimed.
Co-operation between RMC and TT-Line Co, which is owned by the Tasmanian State and operates under the name Spirit of Tasmania, enabled the companies to build tailored ships capable of handling the marine and environmental conditions along the extremely demanding but essential route across the Bass Strait between Devonport (Tas) and Geelong (Victoria).
The new ships are longer, wider and higher than their predecessors. They will increase the annual passenger capacity on the Bass Strait route by nearly 30%, the lane metres for passenger cars and freight by 60%, and the cabin capacity by around 35%, while the environmental impact of shipping will be significantly reduced.
Bernard Dwyer, Managing Director and CEO of Spirit of Tasmania, described the ships as the start of a new era in passenger and freight traffic across the Bass Strait. “The official handover of the vessel from RMC to TT-Line was a significant milestone in this generational project for the State of Tasmania.
“While there are some very minor works to be completed by RMC, we are delighted with the vessel that we are taking possession of.
“We know ‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’ will serve Tasmania and all those who travel on her between mainland Australia and the island State very well. We are excited to take this next significant step in the project,” he said.
‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’ is fitted with several customised solutions designed in accordance to the client’s wishes. Among other things, the ship is the first ropax of this size with dual-fuel engines.
“It was important that TT-Line was closely involved in the design of the ship from the very beginning, since it has enabled us to consider the technology solutions they require and the vessel’s demanding operating conditions”, said Mika Nieminen, RMC CEO and President.
Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager for RMC’s Spirit of Tasmania vessels building, explained that the project required many innovative solutions, for example, to meet the natural conservation values required by the Tasmanian authorities, to take into account Tasmania’s environmental standards and to optimise seagoing properties of the hull design and strength dimensioning.
“This is a particularly demanding route through potentially stormy seas, requiring special solutions in the planning and building of ships for the specific Bass Strait conditions.
“For example, especially large stabilisers ensure the best possible travel comfort in heavy swells. In addition, special attention was given to keeping vibration and noise levels low as part of the ship’s design.
“A significant amount of interior furnishings and materials were sourced from Tasmania in order for the ship to better reflect its home country,” Kaijo said.
‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’ is also the world’s first ship to have the circuit breakers and switches of the ship’s electrical power distribution realised using an integrated bus solution. This helps conserve fuel and facilitates the tracking of energy savings.
This system was implemented by the Kankaanpää-based company Promeco using ABB’s Ekip Link solution.
It also marked the first time RMC used silicone paint on the hull of a ship. The work required unique knowhow and precise timing, as the priming had to be carried out so that the first layer could dry in fair weather, with the next layer applied within a certain time frame, which required a period of dry weather.
As a result, weather forecasting sites were extensively studied by the group.
“Silicone painting significantly decreases the use of fuel during operation, thus reducing the operating costs of the ship. Furthermore, silicone paint keeps the bottom of the ship clean of impurities and reduces the need to wash the base.
“The decrease in fuel consumption has a positive impact on the Spirit of Tasmania’s efforts to realise its environmental values.
“The challenge with silicone painting is that it is sensitive to mechanical contact. For this reason, the ships can only sail from Rauma to Tasmania in ice-free conditions,” Kaijo added.
Throughout the ‘Spirit of Tasmania IV’s’ construction, the shipyard and its sub-contractors worked hard during the heart of the winter when temperatures dropped below -20 deg C and in the middle of the summer when temperatures reached equal levels on the plus side.
At its peak, more than 1,500 people were working on building the ships simultaneously. The employment impact of Spirit of Tasmania ships was more than 3,500 person-years.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the global unrest resulting from the war in Ukraine had an impact on the availability of raw materials and labour, as well as causing cost increases, which made the building process particularly challenging.
Despite that, about 30 RMC sub-contractors and over 300 suppliers operating at the shipyard during the construction period, managed to carry the project forward, together with RMC’s personnel.
According to Mikko Jaskari, RMC’s Acquisition Manager, the delivery of the first ship was only possible because of the project’s competent and adaptable network of companies.
‘Spirit of Tasmania V’ will be built to a faster schedule than the her sistership. Her construction began in December, 2022 and the ship was launched in July, 2024.
When the hull work was completed, interior work on the ship began, including plumbing and electrical work, as well as the furnishing of the cabin areas and restaurants.
Special skills were required for the outfitting of the ship’s engine rooms and car decks, as well as the commissioning of different systems.
The majority of RMC’s supplier network is located within a 150 km radius of the shipyard, but the construction called for a broader use of unique Finnish expertise and also introduced special features and materials from Tasmania.
One of the important functions of Spirit of Tasmania’s ships is to promote tourism in Tasmania. Richard Andree Nilsson, an architect at the Swedish architectural firm Figura, worked to expertly integrate characteristics of Tasmania’s various regions in the ships’ interior.
Elements used in the interior design, such as wood salvaged from Lake Pieman, were sourced directly from Tasmania. The kitchens were designed and implemented by LMG Finland in Eura.
