No reason we need single hulls
BUILDING THE NEW SPIRITS
TASMANIAN shipbuilder Incat has long had an outstanding global reputation for its quality and design of purpose built vessels of all shapes and sizes. It is beyond comprehension that the company’s expertise has not been better used to date by the Tasmanian government and I fully agree with the excellent Editorial (“Need to run tighter ship,” Mercury, July 22).
Bass Strait has traditionally been home to the more conventional single-hull ships but there is no reason in today’s world of maritime technology that hi-tech catamaran ships cannot be the new normal with multiple services for passengers and vehicles rather than the current Spirit scheduled services. All the ship manufacturing skills providing local employment are right here on our doorstep and should be used to maximum advantage in Tasmania’s best financial interests.
Chris Davey Lindisfarne
with Austal trimarans. Only on the most extreme days would they need to slow from cruise speed of 38 knots (70-plus km/ h). Victoria could be 4½ hours away, your ticket would be 40-50 per cent less and two trimarans would cost less than one Spirit. Each would do a return trip each day at 7am and midday, with a carrying capacity greater than the new Spirits.
Austal build many of the trimarans in Western Australia. Let’s go with an Australian very fast trimaran design, a design well suited to Bass Strait conditions.
Michael Peterson Acacia Hills
heavily discounted prices from distressed shipyards or shipping firms, virtually straight off the slipway because existing companies hadn’t been able to complete the purchase. It’s certainly shaping up to be a buyer’s market. If the Tasmanian government is shrewd with its money, Tasmanian taxpayers will benefit.
Christian Bell Mount Nelson