TT-Line, the Australian ferry company, said it has switched a contract to build two 50,600 gross ton ropax ferries to Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland from the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) shipyard in Germany due to the problems at the last named builder.
TT-Line chairman Michael Grainger said the decision was mutually agreed by TT-Line and FSG. “While we respect there has been significant Tasmanian community interest, it was imperative the company followed its legal advice to protect the interests of the state of Tasmania at all times,” he said in a statement.
“The firm advice was that neither TT-Line nor the Government could make public comment regarding the contract details or the status of ongoing conversations with FSG until now. It was critical that we protected the interests of the State of Tasmania at all times. No payments to FSG have been made, and no payments will be made.”
Grainger said TT-Line had been in contact with another shipbuilder, the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC). “RMC was one of the yards originally short-listed through the extensive procurement process undertaken. Since the cancellation of the contracts with FSG, TT-Line has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the RMC and will commence contract negotiations and agree final design specifications. This will include finalising a new delivery date, which at the moment is late 2022 for hull 1 and late 2023 for hull 2. Both delivery dates are well within the expected replacement date of 2028,”Grainer continued.
“Importantly, the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels are already emissions compliant as was required by 2020 and can continue to operate safely and efficiently well past 2021.”
Grainger added that the majority of the work undertaken to date on the new vessels by TT-Line and their expert consultants was transferrable and would be utilised in the detailed design phase and contract negotiations with the new shipbuilder.
