SeaRoad’s $162m ship order

TASMANIAN transport company SeaRoad has finalised an agreement for a new vessel worth $162m to be built by German ship builder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.

The new freight vessel will replace the MV Liekut, which operates across Bass Straight between Melbourne and Devonport.

It will be 210m long, 10m longer than its predecessor, and will be able to transport cargo with a unit weight of up to 100 tonnes.

SeaRoad executive chairman Chas Kelly said the build would enhance logistics solutions for customers.

“At over 40,000 tonnes gross, this will be the largest freight vessel in SeaRoad’s history, continuing to grow our capacity and providing more options for local agriculture, aquaculture and manufacturing industries,” Mr Kelly said.

“We’ve been very pleased with how our two current FSG-built vessels have performed from both an efficiency and operational perspective.”

The new ship is due in 2023.