# Spirit of Tasmania IV and V Depart Geelong and Devonport on First Passenger Voyages

> Spirit of Tasmania IV and V made their first passenger sailings on October 31, 2026, adding 470 passengers per trip and 301 cabins across Bass Strait.

- Published: 2026-10-31T06:52:28+00:00
- Section: Product Launches
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-31/spirit-of-tasmania-inaugural-sailings
- Source: [Mirage News](https://www.miragenews.com/spirit-of-tasmania-iv-and-v-begin-historic-1769925/)

## Key takeaways

- Spirit of Tasmania IV departed Geelong and Spirit of Tasmania V departed Devonport on their inaugural passenger sailings on October 31, 2026.
- The new vessels carry an additional 470 passengers per sailing and offer 301 cabins, including family, deluxe, accessible and pet-friendly options.
- Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the inaugural sailings represent a significant investment in Tasmania's future and its connection to mainland Australia.

Spirit of Tasmania IV departed Geelong and Spirit of Tasmania V departed Devonport on October 31, 2026, on their inaugural passenger sailings, the first use of the company's largest vessels. [Mirage News](https://www.miragenews.com/spirit-of-tasmania-iv-and-v-begin-historic-1769925/) reported the simultaneous departures, which introduce the largest and most advanced vessels ever operated by [Spirit of Tasmania](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/002ca87/spirit-of-tasmania).

## Spirit of Tasmania IV and V Enter Service

The new ships can carry an additional 470 passengers per sailing and feature 301 cabins, including family, deluxe, accessible and pet-friendly accommodation options, alongside increased vehicle and freight capacity. The vessels offer contemporary accommodation and new dining and lounge experiences celebrating Tasmanian produce, craftsmanship and creativity.

Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania, said: "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Tasmania. The inaugural sailings of Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V represent a significant investment in our State's future and in the vital connection between Tasmania and mainland Australia."

Chris Carbone, Chief Executive Officer of Spirit of Tasmania, said: "This is a proud and historic day for Spirit of Tasmania and everyone who has played a role in bringing these vessels to life." Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Tasmania, said the increased capacity will help support tourism growth across the State, encouraging more visitors to bring their vehicles, stay longer and explore more of Tasmania's regions and communities.

## Capacity Gains on the Bass Strait Route

According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), the launch of the purpose-built vessels delivers 59.8% more vehicle lane capacity, at 4,098 versus 2,565 lane metres, and about 29% more passenger capacity, at 1,800 versus 1,400, than the current vessels. The same records state the ships were scheduled to enter commercial Bass Strait service in October 2026. Spirit of Tasmania operates more than 430,000 passengers annually across 850 or more sailings per year, with over 500 employees.

## Delays and Cost Overruns Before the First Crossings

Spirit of Tasmania IV and V began their first crossings of Bass Strait after years of delays and cost overruns, ABC reported on October 30, 2026. The new ferries cost $700 million more than the original business case, and TT-Line's debt will peak at $1.1 billion this year, according to ABC. In June 2026, Spirit of Tasmania V was welcomed into Hobart's Port of Hobart for Dark Mofo, with two freight decks hosting public art installations over two weekends, EIN Presswire reported.

## Dark Mofo Partnership and Handmark Gallery Artwork

Company records show a March 2026 partnership with the Museum of Old and New Art's Dark Mofo festival that used Spirit of Tasmania V as a floating art gallery during the 2026 festival, with nearly 80,000 visitors viewing installations on the vessel's vehicle decks. A June 2026 partnership with Handmark Gallery involved curating artwork and photographic images from Tasmanian artists and photographers for display on the new vessels.

## Companies in this story

- [Spirit of Tasmania company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/002ca87/spirit-of-tasmania) · website: https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au

---
News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt