TT-Line Tasmania, Bygg nr. 6009-6010 ved Rauma Marine Constructions, RoPax "Spirits of Tasmania IV" & "Spirit of Tasmania V"

Refvik

Administrator
Staff member
Rauma Marine Constructions and Australian TT-Line Company sign Memorandum of Understanding for two new car and passenger ferries

Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) and Australian TT-Line Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on two fast car and passenger ferries. The Project will have an impact on employment totalling around 3,500 person-years, and the construction work will start at the beginning of 2021.

”We are proud and grateful of the trust TT-Line Company has shown us. We believe that with this new partnership, we can serve our customer in a way that results in a world-class car and passenger ferry solution for TT-Line Company’s business. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, RMC can move strongly forward on its planned growth path, and can increase the building of large car and passenger ferries in Rauma. This signifies a steady growth for the shipbuilding industry in Finland,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO, RMC.

The vessels will be built at Rauma shipyard and delivered to the customer in Tasmania, Australia, at the end of 2022 and 2023. The vessels set to operate under the brand Spirit of Tasmania will replace the existing vessels, Spirit of Tasmania I and II (ex. Superfast III and Superfast IV), built in Turku, Finland in 1998. The new ferries will accommodate 1,800 passengers and will have an approximate gross tonnage of 48,000. The ferries are set to operate in challenging conditions on the Melbourne, Australia – Devonport, Tasmania route.

“Building these vessels is a natural continuation to the similarly sized MyStar, which we are building for Tallink Grupp. During the next few months, TT-Line Company and RMC are working in close cooperation to finalise the contract for the construction of the vessels. The design of the vessels will begin in the autumn of this year. The building of the vessels will begin in early 2021, and they will be made side-by-side with the multi-role corvettes for the Finnish Navy,” explains Heinimaa.

The construction of the vessels will have a substantial impact on employment, totalling around 3,500 person-years. RMC will also strengthen its organisation and recruit more talent in all phases of the shipbuilding process.

“On top of our own personnel, we will continuously strengthen our cooperation network. Our long-term partnerships can cover diverse sectors of shipbuilding from designing to finishing,” emphasises Heinimaa.

In February, RMC together with Wasaline, celebrated the keel laying of the Aurora Botnia car and passenger ferry. When completed, the vessel will operate between Vaasa and Umeå. The building of Tallink’s new shuttleferry MyStar, which will operate between Helsinki and Tallin, will begin construction in April 2020 at the Rauma shipyard. Last autumn, RMC also signed a deal with the Finnish Defence Forces to deliver four multi-role corvettes by 2026.

SP-232-General-Arrangement-rev-51-Side-view-2000x1414.jpg

Illustrasjon: via RMC
 
Vessel replacement update

TT-Line Company Pty Ltd has been advised by the TT-Line Shareholder Ministers that the Government will not proceed with the proposed vessel replacement contract with Finnish ship builder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) due to COVID-19 and its economic implications for the State.

Chairman Michael Grainger said the government indicated that, given current and emerging economic problems caused by COVID-19, there needed to be more consideration of local content and manufacturing jobs in Tasmania and Australia as part of the overall vessel replacement project.

“The decision is not a reflection of the quality of the business case developed by TT-Line, nor the ability of RMC to deliver the proposed contracts,” he said. “It is simply a matter of timing and the unprecedented impact COVID-19 is having and will have on state and national economies.”

“The Government and TT-Line still believe it is essential that the vessels are replaced in coming years to support the growing passenger and freight transport needs of the state.

“We therefore look forward to working with the government on the next proposal and business case for its consideration that will further maximise local economic benefits.”

Mr Grainger said the government’s decision announced today did not impact the company’s decision to move its Victorian port operations from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong.

“The company will still relocate by the end of 2022 when the Station Pier lease expires,” he said.

Background and timeline context
The government supported the company’s original vessel replacement business case presented in 2017, and a subsequent recommendation in 2018 to sign a contract with German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG).

More recently, when it was mutually agreed between TT-Line and FSG that FSG would not build the new vessels, TT-Line signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RMC and commenced contract negotiations and agreed final design specifications.

The TT-Line Board submitted an updated business case following a unanimous Board recommendation that TT-Line sign a new ship construction contract with RMC.
That recommendation was considered and subsequently not endorsed by the Shareholder Minsters.

Kilde: Spirit of Tasmania
 
Last edited:

 
Contract for two new car and passenger ferries for TT-Line strengthens RMC's order book significantly

Rauma Marine Constructions and Tasmanian shipping company TT-Line Company have finalised an agreement for the construction of two car and passenger ferries at Rauma shipyard. The employment impact of the project is approximately 3,500 person-years and will increase the number of ships to be built by RMC to eight. The construction of TT-Line’s vessels will begin in spring 2022.

TT-Line had to withdraw from a previous Memorandum of Understanding last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. Negotiations resumed in March this year, initiated by the Tasmanian government.

Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions, is happy with how the two parties reached the agreement despite a very challenging situation worldwide.

“We are very grateful for the trust shown to us by TT-Line Company and their representatives. This agreement means that our customer believes that we can offer a world-class solution that is perfect for their business, even in challenging operating conditions,” he says.

“We eagerly await these three years of fruitful collaboration with RMC. The vessels will also make extensive use of the expertise of Tasmanian companies,” says Bernard Dwyer, CEO of TT-Line Company.

Construction of the new car and passenger ferries will begin in spring 2022. The first vessel will be delivered to TT-Line in late 2023 and the second one in late 2024. Once completed, the vessels will operate in challenging conditions on the Geelong–Devonport route running between mainland Australia and the island State of Tasmania. The ferries will accommodate 1,800 passengers and will have an approximate gross tonnage of 48,000. The vessels will replace the Spirit of Tasmania I and II, both built in Finland in 1998.

“An excellent continuation of RMC’s growth story and last year’s good result”
The agreement with TT-Line is a positive signal for RMC’s financial outlook for 2021, as it increases the company’s order book to approximately EUR 1.6 billion and increases the number of ship projects at the shipyard to four.

RMC also achieved an excellent financial result last year despite the global coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, the company’s net sales more than quintupled from EUR 38.1 million in the previous year to EUR 220.1 million. Operating profit, on the other hand, increased from EUR 1.9 million in the previous year to EUR 6.7 million.

“The agreement with TT-Line Company is an excellent continuation of RMC’s growth story and last year’s good result. We will continue on our set growth path to build car and passenger ferries in Rauma, which also means stable growth in the shipbuilding industry in Finland. Last year, we strengthened our personnel by almost 50 per cent, meaning our organisation is more than ready for a new 3,500-person-year project,” says Heinimaa.

In addition to TT-Line’s vessels, RMC is currently working on car and passenger ferries for Finnish shipping company Wasaline and Estonian shipping company Tallink, as well as four multi-purpose corvettes for the Finnish Defence Forces. After the challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of the year, production work has resumed to normal capacity. The company shut down production for a while in February after a cluster of coronavirus infections was revealed among workers at the shipyard. Following the detection of coronavirus cases, RMC immediately implemented a more strict safety plan, the functioning of which is being closely monitored. The coronavirus situation has been brought under control thanks to those safety measures.

Kilde: Rauma Marine Constructions

TBN
TT-line_front-2000x1125.jpg

Illustrasjon: via Rauma Marine Constructions
 

Construction starts of new Spirit of Tasmania ship! Livery and ship names revealed​


Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has formally started construction of the first roll on / roll off vessels to replace the current Spirit of Tasmania ships.

The first steel was cut for Spirit of Tasmania IV – as the vessel will be named – at 8pm AEDT on Monday 28 February.

The names – Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V – are the logical continuation of vessel names that build on the legacy of the Spirit of Tasmania I and II and acknowledge Spirit of Tasmania III that operated the now discontinued Devonport to Sydney service.

The company has also taken the opportunity to refresh its branding which is reflected in the vessel’s new livery. The strong and iconic use of red has been maintained keeping the ships recognisable and distinctive. The new-look logo is modern, clean and strong in design. The emblem has been refreshed to highlight the iconic red and white bow of the Spirit of Tasmania ships against a blue sky and sea framed within the shape of Tasmania. The new font is emotive but also functional, using italics to represent movement.

Spirit of Tasmania, Managing Director and CEO Bernard Dwyer said the steel cutting ceremony in Finland was much more than a traditional and significant maritime celebration.

“This is a significant moment for Tasmania and for the Tasmanian economy. When completed, the vessel’s arrival in late 2023 will mark the start of a new era for passenger travel and freight transport across Bass Strait,” he said.

“While the new ships will be a similar design to the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels, they will feature substantially larger capacity for passengers, passenger vehicles and freight.”

“The new vessels will also feature up to $100 million in Tasmanian and Australian content.”

Mr Dwyer said Spirit of Tasmania was delighted to be working with RMC on the project.

“The European-based ship builder has an excellent reputation for building and delivering vessels of outstanding quality which in turn will allow us to deliver the very best for Tasmania.”

Kilde: Spirit of Tasmania
 
"Spirit of Tasmania IV" og "Spirit of Tasmania V"
FB_IMG_1646049705873.jpg

FB_IMG_1646049707675.jpg

FB_IMG_1646049709535.jpg
Illustrasjoner: via rederiet
 
With the "Tallink-size" of 212m x 31m typical big modern comfortable RoPax-Ferries in the classic Superfast-Design. Service-speed will be again fast 26 knots, like today, but then with LNG.

301 cabins, max. capacity 1800 persons.

So in 2024 the both 1998 built Spirit of Tasmania 1 + 2 are available for sale - but with then an age of 26 years normally too old (and with 30,4 knots too fast and with only 1800lm too small) for northern european routes.

Can somebody explain the white "Mast" in front of the funnel ? Maybe for better Internet onboard ?
 
Construction of the world’s southernmost LNG-powered car and passenger ferry started at Rauma, Finland – RMC to build two RoPax ferries for the open sea route between mainland Australia and Tasmania

The start of production of a passenger and vehicle ferry was celebrated today at Rauma shipyard. The construction of the Spirit of Tasmania IV, set to operate between mainland Australia and Tasmania, began with a traditional steel cutting ceremony. Even though the future route and the shipyard responsible for the construction are located on the opposite sides of the globe, trust and cooperation have been built over a long period of time.

“Although the actual construction of the first ferry started today, RMC and Spirit of Tasmania already have a long history. The pandemic, among other things, disrupted our plans, but the agreement for the vessels was re-signed in 2021. We are particularly glad that our joint journey, which has lasted more than a decade, finally reached this important milestone. Therefore, I would like to thank Spirit of Tasmania for trusting our local expertise in shipbuilding,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO and president of RMC.

The twin Spirit of Tasmania vessels will be constructed in Rauma. When finished, they will be the southernmost vessels to operate with LNG. In addition, the vessels will have a dual fuel solution, which will allow them to use other, alternative fuels, if needed.

Spirit of Tasmania (TT-Line Company), the purchaser of the vessels, is a significant player in maritime transport between mainland Australia and Tasmania. Currently, the Spirit of Tasmania-named vessels carry around 450,000 passengers each year. The new vessels will operate an extremely challenging route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania. The ferries have been specially designed to undertake this specific route.

The vessels will hold 1,800 passengers each and their gross tonnage will be approximately 48,000 metric tons. The new vessels will replace similarly Finnish-built sister ships from the 1990s. The first vessel will be finished in late 2023 and the second in late 2024.

Bernard Dwyer, CEO and Managing Director of Spirit of Tasmania says “This is a significant moment for Tasmania and for the Tasmanian economy. When completed, the vessel’s arrival in late 2023 will mark the start of a new era for passenger travel and freight transport across Bass Strait,” he said.

“While the new ships will be a similar design to the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels, they will feature substantially larger capacity for passengers, passenger vehicles and freight.”


For the city of Rauma and the surrounding region, the design and construction of the vessels will create a total of around 3,500 person-years’ worth of employment. The vessels are being built while the shipyard also finalises a new car and passenger ferry for Tallink and builds new multipurpose corvettes for the Finnish Defence Forces’ Squadron 2020 project.

Kilde: RMC
 
"Den hvite masten er nok utlufting for LNG"
Ok, thanks a lot for info. This explain a similar "Mast" on Viking Glory also.
 
Now the both "old" Tasmanian Spirits are officially for sale via shipbroker GRS without price-idea (Speed is 30,4 knots, in Australia ca. 27,5 knots is operated):

Boats for sale Germany, boats for sale, used boat sales, Commercial Vessels For Sale Sister Vsl also for Sale / 194m / 2.286 pax Passenger / RoRo Ship for Sale / #1057363 - Apollo Duck
https://commercial.apolloduck.com/boat/commercial-vessels-ferry-ropax-ferries-for-sale/743139
Boats for sale Germany, boats for sale, used boat sales, Commercial Vessels For Sale Sister Vsl also for Sale / 194m / 2.286 pax Passenger / RoRo Ship for Sale / #1057362 - Apollo Duck

Because of the very big fine totally-renovation and rebuilding in 2017/2018 with the result of 99% sundecks changed into attractive lounges, bars, wintergarden etc. also for use in North Europe a thinkable option.

I guess that both ferries together will be available very cheap for only 50-60 Mio. (25-30 per ship) because of their high age (if ready for 1.day in traffic in Europe 27 years old).
There are some really big ferry-route-gaps in North-Sea - with 222 Cabins, 121 new luxury Pullman seats and 2500 lm fine cheap ferries in the right size for start f.ex.
- (Bergen-Stavanger-)Kristiansand-Emden(/Wilhelmshaven/Bremerhaven/Cuxhaven/Hamburg)
- (Bergen-Stavanger-)Kristiansand-Amsterdam(Ijmuiden)
- Newcastle-Stavanger-Bergen
- Newcastle-Kristiansand-Göteborg
- Langesund-(Skagen-)Rostock
- Hamburg(downtown)-London(Tilbury+own shuttle-coaches to downtown)

Then after some years change to ferries with more space for Pax or more space for freight - depending on the experience with the customer-figures.
Normally especially Fjordline "must" take the chance now to offer also a Norway-Germany route before any other fill the HNL-route-gap.
If Fjordline, Color Line, DFDS, NFI etc. are not interested - maybe some other new investors (from Norway) are possible also ?
 
Back
Top