The Spirit of Tasmania IV has suffered a steering fault that left passengers stranded for more than four hours, in the latest setback for TT-Line's troubled new fleet. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning as the vessel attempted to transit Port Phillip Heads, less than a week after the ship completed its maiden voyage.
What happened at Port Phillip Heads
Shipping data captured between 3am and 4am showed the vessel making several about-face turns near the heads before it was eventually able to enter the bay. Passengers aboard were given little information as the delays mounted.
"There was a message come over the intercom that, look, we can't get into the harbour until about 10.30am. So at this stage it was about 5.30am," passenger Sandra Liane said.
The ship slowed to near-stationary speeds at three separate points during the remainder of its journey before finally docking at Geelong at 10.25am, arriving almost four and a half hours behind schedule.
In a statement, TT-Line confirmed the vessel's master identified a fault as the ship was preparing to pass through Port Phillip Heads. After addressing the issue and clearing the heads safely, tug support was called in. Because the tug had to travel from Geelong to reach the vessel, the delay extended significantly.
TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone said safety remained the company's top priority and that technicians had been engaged to diagnose the fault. He also apologised to passengers for the disruption.
A pattern of steering problems across the new fleet
Thursday's incident is not an isolated case. The Spirit of Tasmania IV's sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania V, is already under investigation after veering outside charter shipping limits last month. That incident was serious enough that the vessel had to be brought to a complete stop while crew worked to regain control.
The two incidents have prompted scrutiny of whether the new vessels are ready for regular passenger service. When asked about the string of early faults, minister Felix Ellis defended the ships, describing them as "hugely complex bespoke builds" and said it was important to work through the challenges of the initial sailings.
Passenger Liane was not reassured. "There's big guys in the boardrooms that need to sit down and have a little think. A big think, actually. And maybe be held accountable for what's going on," she said.
Federal safety investigators expand their probe
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has now broadened its existing investigation into the Spirit of Tasmania V steering incident to include Thursday's events involving Spirit of Tasmania IV. The expanded scope reflects what the ATSB describes as its highest priority area in marine transport: incidents involving Australian-flagged passenger vessels.
Investigators plan to download and examine voyage data recorder information from both ships, inspect the relevant equipment, interview crew members and other key personnel, and review all supporting records and documentation.
The dual investigation signals growing official concern about the reliability of the new ferries at a time when TT-Line is still in the early stages of introducing them to service. Transport safety agencies have long emphasised the importance of thorough post-incident analysis on passenger vessels, a principle reflected in how bodies around the world approach serious transport events.
What happens next
TT-Line has said it is working with technicians to identify the root cause of the steering fault on Spirit of Tasmania IV, while the ATSB probe into both vessels is now underway. No timeline has been given for when findings might be released or when the investigation is expected to conclude.
For passengers, the incidents have raised questions about whether the complex new ferries are sufficiently proven for routine operation, and whether the rollout has moved too quickly. With both ships now under federal investigation, the pressure on TT-Line and the minister responsible will only increase in the weeks ahead.
