14 August 2024
The Board of TT-Line Company Pty Ltd has disputed elements of the evidence presented to the Public Accounts Committee on Monday 12 August.
Chairman Michael Grainger said he looked forward to “setting the record straight” when he and members of the management team presented follow up evidence after an initial appearance on 28 June 2024.
“Out of respect for the PAC process, while noting the significant community interest in the matter, we will be providing our factually correct evidence to the PAC first,” he said.
“At a high level, the Board, which met on Tuesday, stands by its recent decisions and the processes around those decisions, particularly related to paying additional funds to Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) to complete our two new Spirit of Tasmania ships.
“Further, we look forward to explaining in greater detail the context for the decisions the Board took in relation to the terminal development at berth 3 in Devonport.”
Mr Grainger said the company would shortly take delivery in Finland of the first of its new Spirit of Tasmania vessels to operate between Devonport and Geelong.
“The company is very much looking forward to receiving a date from TasPorts for when berth 1 will be ready to accommodate our first new Spirit of Tasmania vessel, Spirit of Tasmania IV,” he said.
“We have signed a contract with a partnership comprising national and Tasmanian companies – Spirit Partners – to relocate our Devonport base of operations from its existing berth 1 to berth 3.
“BMD Constructions, with which we worked closely to deliver Spirit of Tasmania’s Geelong Port facility, will be joined in the partnership by Fitzgerald Constructions Australia (which also worked with BMD in Geelong) and local Tasmanian companies Bridgepro Engineering, Gradco and Vos Constructions.”
