Spirit of Tasmania V: From Finnish Shipyard to Fremantle to Dark Mofo

Last August here on the Shipping News we had the privilege of covering Spirit of Tasmania IV on her way to Tassie via Fremantle. Now it’s Spirit of Tasmania V’s turn to be talked about and photographed as she calls by Freo on her way to Tassie!

Much like her sister ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV, Spirit of Tasmania V has taken one of the more unusual delivery voyages in recent Australian maritime history — a brand‑new Bass Strait megaferry built in Finland, laid up for months in Scotland, now turning up in Fremantle before sailing on to Tasmania, via Melbourne.

Whereas Spirit IV is currently laid up around Williamstown near Melbourne awaiting her call to active ferry service probably in about October, 🤞, Hobart looks like being the next major port of call for Spirit V, after a Melbourne visit, as a centrepiece of the 2026 Dark Mofo Festival.

Here’s how we got here.

Built for Bass Strait — in the Baltic

Spirit of Tasmania V began life at Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland, part of the largest shipbuilding contract ever signed between Finland and Australia. She was launched July 2024 and delivered to the Tasmanian TT‑Line in mid‑2025.

She and Spirit IV, were designed specifically for the testing seas between Victoria and Tasmania to carry vehicles and people.

Why she ended up in Leith

On delivery, Spirit V didn’t head south. Instead, like Spirit IV, she was laid up in Leith, Scotland, because the new Devonport East Quay — the only berth capable of handling the new Spirits in Tassie — wasn’t ready – and still isn’t.

Leith, in effect, became an unlikely Tasmanian ferry depot. There were hopes in the Tasmanian Government, for which the ferry acquisitions have become a financial headache and a political embarrassment, that the idle ferries might be leased out for a period. But that never happened.

The long voyage home

With Devonport still delayed, TT‑Line finally sent Spirit V on her repositioning voyage in March this year.

She departed Leith on 7 March, slipped down the Atlantic via Gibraltar, rounded Cape Town, crossed the Indian Ocean visiting Mauritius on the way, and made her first Australian landfall in Fremantle late last week. On Thursday night just gone she tied up in Fremantle’s Inner Harbour. And in the middle of today, Monday 27 April, at 1.45 pm Freo time, under grey and wintry skies, she departed Freo.

Spirit of Tasmania V. Fremantle 27 April 2026. Credit Fremantle Shipping News

Here’s a nice shot of Spirit V departing the Freo Inner Harbour today (taken by our Editor, Michael Barker), and if Apple Islanders are looking for a good Spirit omen after all they’ve been through in acquiring these two ferries, you can’t beat having Jonathan Livingston Seagull guide you on your onward journey from Freo!

Why she’s heading to Hobart

Tassie’s TT‑Line, that will operate each of the two new ferries, has confirmed that Spirit V will not go straight to Devonport. The new berth still isn’t ready, and the old berths can’t take her.

Instead, we understand she will, soon enough find her way to Hobart, where she’ll spend most of June undergoing final fit‑out and crew familiarisation.

And that timing has created an unexpected cultural moment – a 48,000‑tonne Dark Mofo venue – Spirit of Tasmania V will be one of the headline venues for Dark Mofo 2026.

She’ll be berthed at MAC02 wharf from 8–30 June. Her cavernous vehicle decks 3 and 4 will be transformed into large‑scale art spaces with Installations that will include robotics, light works, and immersive video pieces.

Here’s a pic of Spirit IV tied up at MAC02 on a visit to Hobart last August, the same place Spirit V will soon tie up for Dark Mofo.

It’s the first time a Bass Strait ferry has doubled as a festival pavilion — and it may be the only time Tasmanians get to wander her decks before she enters service.

What happens after the festival

Once Dark Mofo wraps, Spirit V is expected to continue commissioning work in Hobart or Geelong until Devonport’s new berth is complete.

As to the likely start date, our Devonport eyes-on-the-port advise us the new terminal is coming along nicely. The huge gantry is now in place. AND … bookings for the two new Spirits are slated to start from 31 October.

So, while TT‑Line hasn’t formally announced the final handover and new ferry start dates, both Spirits IV and V are now firmly in Australian waters and edging closer and closer to the Tassie ferry service!

Here’s a gallery of great shots of Spirit V passing through Fremantle’s heads today taken for the Shipping News by Les Moyle of Balm Commercial Photography with his fabulous eye in the sky!