THE Spirit of Tasmania is moving from Station Pier, Port Melbourne to Corio Quay, Geelong, in 2022. The company has long been in discussion to move from Melbourne to the other side of Port Phillip Bay (CW 06 Mar), with concerns of “price-gouging” regarding the Station Pier lease. TT-Line also...
THE Spirit of Tasmania is moving from Station Pier, Port Melbourne to Corio Quay, Geelong, in 2022.
The company has long been in discussion to move from Melbourne to the other side of Port Phillip Bay (CW 06 Mar), with concerns of “price-gouging” regarding the Station Pier lease.
TT-Line also made note of its two new ships, slated to enter service over the next two years, saying, “we have outgrown our home port at Station Pier,” with the company to now work with GeelongPort to build a 12-hectare purpose-built facility (render pictured), to open in 2022.
The facility will provide parking, state-of-the art boarding technology, comfortable & accessible passenger lounges, public amenities, a cafe, a children’s play area, and a pet exercise area.
TT-Line Chairman Michael Grainger added congestion at Port Melbourne has and would continue to be disadvantageous to Spirit of Tasmania, especially once the company’s new ships come into service.
“Pax feedback on this part of our operations has been critical, with passengers citing boarding queues of up to two-and-a-half-hours, which in turn impacts the sailing schedule,” he said.
Grainger said the Corio Quay solution ticked the key boxes of ease of location & check-in, and lack of traffic.
