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Spirit of Tasmania II and on time running
Spirit of Tasmania III and the Timetable.
The timetable for the operation of "Spirit of Tasmania III" between Sydney and Devonport appears to be a little optimistic to say the least. The advertised timetable shows 3 sailings per week in each direction, departing at 1500 and arriving at the opposite port at 1130. This gives a running time of 20 hrs. 30 mins. and a turn around time of 3 hrs. 30 mins. at each port. The apparent cruising speed is 27.5 knots. But is this also the maximum speed? I ask this because it seems that this journey time can only be achieved under very optimal conditions. This makes me suspect that someone has made a theoretical calculation, not allowed for any problems and published this theoretical timetable as the actual timetable. The ship has some recovery time in Devonport from Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon. My family and I went to Tassie on the 2nd sailing ex-Sydney on Friday 16th of January, returning on Monday 26th of January. On the southbound journey we had checked the arrival with TT Line and were told the 'ship was slightly late but would load and depart on time". We sat for some time in the loading queue at Walsh Bay and soon realised that the ship was still unloading. Eventually we were told to go and get some refreshments and return to our vehicle at 1530! (It eventually transpired that the ship had indeed arrived late and that a very low car had 'bottomed' on the ramp and a Fork Lift was required to get it off!) The ship started loading at about 1630 and, despite a pretty full load, we actually commenced moving at about 1730. We had anticipated seeing two cruise ships in the harbour, indeed a P&O vessel was behind us and left on time - as apparently did the Star vessel at Circular Quay - for it was gone by the time we passed under the Harbour Bridge. The ship is a worthwhile experience and, as stated on "Getaway" the other night should be treated as a short distance cruise rather than as a ferry. But that's not what I'm covering here. I had assumed that we would make up some time during the night, but the night was a little rough - probably what could be called normal for a night at sea in these regions and by the following morning it was announced that we had lost more time and would probably not arrive into Devonport until about 1500. Than we ran into a very brisk head wind in Bass Strait - strong enough that open top deck was closed to passengers. The Brunch session was extended well into the afternoon to provide food for the passengers and we ran later and later - eventually docking in Devonport just after 1600 and getting our car off at about 1700 - fortunately we had booked a motel in Launceston and could get there in just over an hour. The following days in Tasmania saw various stories in the media about late running on the service, with TT Line issuing Press Releases to the media with every possible excuse except the most likely one - i.e. something is wrong with the timetable. On the morning of our return I rang TT Line and was told that the vessel was about 30 minutes late and should be boarding on time. By the time we arrived, after a very slow lunch, we were loaded almost instantly and the ship actually left about 10 minutes early - an advantage when you have a complete passenger list and know that everyone has turned up in time. We had a very smooth crossing and I felt everything looked pretty good - at Brunch at 0700 we were off Gabo Island and soon could see Point Perpendicular. Than an announcement followed - we had been delayed by strong headwinds during the night and were about 30 mins. late. Than off Sydney Heads we had to stop for the Pilot (apparently the Skippers have to work into Sydney Harbour for a month before they are allowed to do it without supervision. Than there was a fair amount of fiddling before we moored - at about 1220 instead of 1130. Than we had a long wait before unloading began from our car deck. By this time I had suddenly realized that a number of motorists from very quiet Tasmania were about to find themselves in Sussex St Sydney at lunch time on a Tuesday. When we did move off the vessel, we actually got suck in a tailback of vehicles from the Wharf Gate due to trying to get into the Sydney traffic! I suspect that the prestige of Walsh Bay alongside the city may be outweighed by the benefits of moving to the car unloading wharf at Glebe Island, where at least there is some decent room for a queue out of the wharf. Obviously someone in Tasmania has some thinking to do about that timetable. -- Tony Bailey Mercury Travel Books |
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