New Spirit of Tasmania ships carry their first paying passengers

Pulse Tasmania reported that passengers on the first public crossing of the new Spirit of Tasmania ships celebrated on board on Saturday night, and that some did not know they were on the inaugural sailing until they boarded. The new ferries carried their first paying passengers across Bass Strait. Pulse joined the sailing from Geelong to Devonport.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent were on board. Rockliff told Pulse, as the ship pushed back from Geelong on Saturday night: “There’s been troubled waters, but we’ve stayed the course and here we are now on the first journey of many for the next four decades for Tasmania.”

Vincent said bookings rose 26% in September and 22% in October. He said more than 3,000 pet cabins had been sold and there was no longer a waiting list for caravans. Pulse said the ships entered service after years of delays, and that the ship was due in Devonport that morning.