Spirit of Tasmania
| Company type | Government Business Enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Devonport, Tasmania, Australia Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
Key people | Michael Ferguson (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Bernard Dwyer (CEO) |
| Products | Ferries, passenger transportation, freight transportation, holidays, business travel |
| Revenue | A$244.6 million (June 2018) |
| A$44.4 million (June 2018) | |
Number of employees | 500+ |
| Parent | Government of Tasmania |
| Website | www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/ |
TT-Line Company Pty Ltd, trading as Spirit of Tasmania, is a Tasmanian Government-owned business enterprise that has provided ferry services between mainland Australia and Tasmania since July 1993. Navigating Bass Strait, Spirit of Tasmania ferries cover a distance of 242 nautical miles (448 km; 278 mi) between Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania. Each journey takes approximately 9-11 hours, and are normally overnight crossings.
Currently, the TT-Line Company's fleet includes two Finnish-built vessels: MS Spirit of Tasmania I and MS Spirit of Tasmania II. These ships were expected to be replaced by MS Spirit of Tasmania IV and MS Spirit of Tasmania V in 2024 and 2025 respectively, but delivery has been delayed because of delays around the construction of an upgraded wharf at Devonport. Between 2003 and 2006, Spirit of Tasmania operated a service between Sydney and Devonport using the former MS Spirit of Tasmania III.
In addition to passenger services, Spirit of Tasmania provides sea freight and roll on/roll off transport for vehicles, making it a vital link between Tasmania and the mainland. Since 1996, fares have been subsidised through the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, which aims to make ferry travel more affordable for passengers and promote economic activity between the regions.
The shipping line, wholly owned by the Government of Tasmania, was initially a part of the Tasmanian Government's Department of Transport. It became a government business enterprise in 1993, adopting the name Spirit of Tasmania in August of that year.