MS Spirit of Tasmania I
{{Short description|Bass Strait ferry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = MS Spirit of Tasmania I at Devonport, Tasmania.jpg | Ship caption = Spirit of Tasmania I at Devonport, Tasmania }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = *1998–2002: Superfast IV
| Ship owner = *1998–2002: Superfast Ferries
| Ship operator = *1998–2002: Superfast Ferries | Ship registry = *1998–2002: Patras, {{flag|Greece|civil}}
| Ship route = *1998–2002: Patras–Ancona | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland | Ship original cost = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = | Ship completed = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9158446}}
| Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Superfast III class fast ropax ferry | Ship tonnage = *{{GT|29,338}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20190304183806/https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/media/717328/2018-ship-facts.pdf Ship facts - Spirit of Tasmania I & II] Spirit of Tasmania
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|194.33|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|25.00|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 11 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = *4 × Wärtsilä 16ZA40S diesels
| Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|30.8|kn|km/h|2|abbr=on}} maximum speed | Ship capacity = *1,400 passengers
| Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
MS Spirit of Tasmania I is a roll-on/roll-off ferry operated by Spirit of Tasmania between Geelong and Devonport in Australia. Built in 1998 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards at Turku New Shipyard in Finland for Superfast Ferries as MS Superfast IV, since 2002 she has sailed for Spirit of Tasmania as the Spirit of Tasmania I.
Concept and construction
The Superfast IV was the second ship of the second pair (the former pair being Superfast I and Superfast II) built for Superfast Ferries at Kvaerner Masa-Yards for its Adriatic Sea services from Patras to Ancona She was a sister ship of Superfast III.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_IV_1998.htm |title=M/S Superfast IV (1998) |accessdate=19 May 2008 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish |archive-date=10 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510030422/http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_IV_1998.htm |url-status=live }}
File:Spirit of Tasmania 1 bulbous bow.JPG
Amenities and deck layout
Spirit of Tasmania I has 11 decks, with 222 cabins.
- Decks 1 to 6 are used to hold cars and trucks. The fore-ends of Decks 1 and 2 are accessed via a ramp from deck 3 (The aft-end space of the two decks houses the ships machinery). Deck 6 holds cars using a hoistable platform.
- Deck 7 has cabins, a reception area, small movie theater, lounge bar, gaming lounge, gift shop, tourism bureau, main bar, two restaurants and a children's playroom.
- Deck 8 has cabins and an ocean recliner area.
- Deck 9 is mainly crew area.
- Deck 10 has a bar and disco area.
- Deck 11 has a helicopter landing pad.
Service history
=1998–2002: ''Superfast IV''=
The Superfast IV entered service on 1 April 1998 on Superfast Ferries' Patras to Ancona service. In March 2002 the Superfast IV was sold to Spirit of Tasmania.
=2002 onwards: ''Spirit of Tasmania I''=
Spirit of Tasmania took over its new ship at Patras on 10 May 2002. The ship was then sailed to the Neorion ship yard on the island of Syros for painting and general overhaul. She was renamed Spirit of Tasmania I. She subsequently sailed to Hobart, Tasmania, where she was refitted for her new service. On 1 September 2002 she entered service on the Melbourne to Devonport service.{{cite book|last=Plowman|first=Peter|title=Ferry to Tasmania: A Short History|date=2004|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=1 877058 27 0|pages=173-183}}
In 2015 she was refurbished in Devonport.[https://web.archive.org/web/20210215181905/https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/asia/trimline-completes-major-refurbishment-ferries-spirit-tasmania-1-2 Trimline completes major refurbishment of ferries Spirit of Tasmania 1 & 2] Seatrade Maritime News 16 October 2015Transforming Spirit of Tasmania Ships Monthly February 2016 page 7
Spirit of Tasmania I and sistership Spirit of Tasmania II are scheduled to be replaced by the Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V in 2026.[https://www.thedcn.com.au/news-repeat/builder-hands-over-spirit-iv/ Builder hands over Spirit of Tasmania IV] Daily Cargo News 13 September 2024
=2005 event=
During the night of 3-4 February 2005 Spirit of Tasmania I ran into heavy seas in the Bass Strait while sailing from Melbourne to Devonport. At approximately 02:00 the seas reached a height of 20 metres. The seas smashed cabin windows on the starboard bow and subsequently cabin walls were smashed down, flooding cabin decks as high as deck 9 (the deck under the bridge). Many passengers were unaware of the cause of water in their cabins since the water had disabled the public announcement system. The captain decided it best to return to Melbourne, arriving mid-morning to heavy media coverage. The ship remained in port overnight for temporary repairs and sailed again the following evening for Devonport.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090105015626/http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Pounded-by-wild-seas-Spirit-forced-to-turn-tail/2005/02/03/1107409990771.html Pounded by wild seas, Spirit forced to turn tail] The Age 4 February 2005
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Spirit of Tasmania I (ship, 1998)}}
- [https://ferriesoftasmania.com/spirit-of-tasmania-1/ Spirit of Tasmania I] Ferries of Tasmania
{{Superfast III class}}
{{Australianferries}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spirit of Tasmania I}}