TT-Line Company Pty Ltd will operate two fast monohull vessels between Devonport and Station Pier, Port Melbourne.

TT-Line Chief Executive Peter Simmons said the vessels would be known as Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II.

�The decision to operate two overnight monohull vessels on Bass Strait was made after extensive research of passengers, travel agents and freight users and an exhaustive examination of available vessels in Australia and overseas,� he said.

�Daily departures (a vessel will depart each port daily at 9pm and arrive the following morning at 7am) were well received by Tasmanian passengers who welcomed the greater capacity the vessels would provide meaning passengers would not need to book so far in advance to travel by sea on Bass Strait.

�Travel agents also reacted very favourably to the two fast overnight monohull vessels option on the basis that it would provide greater frequency and increased capacity.�

Mr Simmons said the introduction of the new, more efficient service would be a significant boost to the Tasmanian economy, providing enormous potential for growth in the tourism industry and related business sectors.

�The new service is expected to trigger a renewed interest in sea travel and Tasmania resulting in a 31 per cent increase in visitor numbers (an additional 36,350 mainland visitors) to Tasmania annually,� he said.

�It is estimated that this increase in visitor numbers will generate an additional $41.4 million in visitor spending per annum, increasing the contribution from TT-Line to Tasmania�s annual tourism spend to $173.3 million.

�Importantly, the new vessels will provide the confidence the industry needs to upgrade existing properties and invest in new ventures.�

Constructed in Finland in 1998, the identical 194-metre-long vessels (30 metres longer than the current Spirit of Tasmania) are capable of speeds of 27.5 knots and can transport up to 1,400 passengers and 650 vehicles.

The vessels currently operate a passenger, passenger-vehicle and freight service between Ancona in Italy and Patras in Greece on the Adriatic Sea which, despite perceptions to the contrary, can experience seas of up to six metres and winds of 40 knots or more.

The new Spirit of Tasmania I and II will offer a variety of accommodation standards � from luxury suites to sit-up airline style seats for the budget conscious traveller. Three and four berth cabins are also available, all with private toilet and shower facilities.

On board, passengers will be able to select from a wide variety of food options during their Bass Strait crossing. In addition to a self-service buffet restaurant which will offer a range of cold and hot dishes, and an a la Carte restaurant similar to the Huon Room on the current Spirit of Tasmania, snack foods and pastry lines will also be available from the ships� bars.

There are numerous television monitors throughout the ships� public areas which will play movies, music video clips, and a range of television channels.

Adult fares for a four-berth porthole cabin will start at $182 per person during the shoulder season (31 August 2002 � 6 December 2002 and 27 January 2003 � 27 April 2003) and $201 per person during the peak season (7 December 2002 � 26 January 2003).

Pensioner fares for the same cabin during the shoulder season will be $108 per person and $121 per person while children fares will be $91 per person and $101 per person respectively. Cruise seat fares will range from $100 in the shoulder season to $125 during the peak periods.

Mr Simmons said these fares were lower than fares on the current Spirit of Tasmania overnight service as meals would not be included.

Mr Simmons said the increased service and shorter crossing time would also greatly enhance opportunities for TT-Line�s sea freight services.

�The new fast displacement ships will operate every day leaving later and arriving earlier and each will have a capacity of 40 semi-trailers representing more than a 100 per cent increase on current capacity,� he said.

�This sailing schedule, which provides freight forwarders with the only first vessel in, last vessel out option, will provide them with the best possible opportunity to meet the requirements of their customers.�

The vessels are expected to arrive in Australia in August 2002 and commence service in September 2002.

Mr Simmons said this was the most important decision TT-Line had made in decades.

�We are looking forward to the exciting opportunities the new vessels will bring to Tasmania and Tasmanians,� he said.

For further information contact:

Simone Ferrier Manager Corporate Communications TT-Line Company Pty Ltd Tel: 9206 6220 or 0417 540 583