The first of two brand-new ferries for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company got its name at Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), with Deborah Grainger from Australia as the godmother.

The 212 by 21 m ro-pax, which will offer room for 1,800 passengers and 3,700 lane metres for wheeled cargo, will serve the Geelong-Devonport service once delivered.

After the launch, the work shifted from hull construction to equipment assembly and interior work. The focus will be on finishing plumbing and electrics as well as interior design for the hotel area.

Furthermore, the work around the vessel's engine room and car deck will continue.

The equipment assembly phase will continue with the implementation of various systems, culminating in sea trials conducted before the handing out of the vessel.

The progress on Spirit of Tasmania IV means that RMC's construction pool got freed up for constructing the hull of her sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania V.

The construction of the two ferries for TT-Line Company, the biggest individual foreign sale between Australia and Finland, will create around 3,500 person-years worth of employment at RMC in 2021-24.

Next in the shipyard's order book are the four corvettes for the Finnish Navy, with the construction of the first slated to start on 30 October 2023. The project will be finished by 2029, and its direct impact on employment in Finland is approximately 3,600 person-years.

Photo: Rauma Marine Constructions