The new Spirit of Tasmania IV weighed anchor from its temporary berth in Leith this week, marking the start of multi-day sea trials in Scottish waters. The departure follows several months at dock while engineers, in conjunction with the Finnish shipbuilder RMC and TT-Line, addressed technical issues within the ferry’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems.
TT-Line confirmed the vessel's departure was intended to verify that its LNG system operates correctly under real-world conditions. The ship will return to Leith upon completion of trials, then depart on its transoceanic voyage to Tasmania pending successful outcomes.
Repairs were previously completed on her sister vessel, Spirit V, with the same modifications replicated aboard Spirit IV shortly thereafter.
The ferry has remained docked in Scotland since November 2024 due to port infrastructure constraints in Tasmania, and an intended departure in late May was postponed when the LNG fault was confirmed during sea trials.
No firm schedule has been set for Spirit IV’s arrival in Australian waters. The vessel is expected to undertake a 36-day voyage to Hobart, where final outbound fit-out will take place.
This development follows a series of delays and spotlighted technical and logistical obstacles: the completion of Devonport’s new berth remains pending until at least late 2026, shipbuilding setbacks have drawn political attention, and berthing expenses in Leith have mounted.
The initiation of sea trials signals a turning point. If successful, Spirit IV will prepare for transit to Tasmania, ready to join the Spirit fleet once her operational systems have been fully validated.