Captain Doug Harrower of Spirit of Tasmania showcases the upcoming Spirit IV, set to launch on October 31 after a three-year construction period. This new vessel increases capacity from 1330 to 1800 passengers and includes five times more caravan space compared to previous ships. Key features include pet-friendly cabins, accessible all-abilities rooms, and premium recliners with USB chargers. The ship emphasizes Tasmanian products and culture throughout its dining options, such as the Cradle Lounge featuring local cheeses and olives, and the Mersey Cafe serving handmade scallop pies.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Captain Doug Harrower, who has helmed the Spirit of Tasmania for 14 years, is excited about the launch of the new Spirit IV. The ship will begin welcoming passengers on October 31st after a three-year construction period. Designed to accommodate up to 1800 guests, it is significantly larger than its predecessors, being 17 meters longer and four meters taller, with room for an additional 470 passengers.
The new ships feature various amenities aimed at enhancing the passenger experience, including swanky lounges like the Cradle Lounge, which will serve local delicacies such as Coal River Farm camembert and Wattle Hill olives. Additionally, there is a Mersey Cafe for early morning coffees and handmade Tasmanian scallop pies, alongside an improved Maatsuyker Bar with a live sports viewing area and pizza oven capable of serving family-size pizzas.
These enhancements reflect decades of operational learning from crossing the Bass Strait, which challenges even modern vessels. The new fleet also prioritizes space for up to five times more caravan parking compared to previous models, catering to the nearly half million annual travelers who use this route.
Written for “Spirit Of Tasmania Redesign” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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His eyes sparkle when we pass on Deck 5 of the long-awaited Spirit IV, which will make waves when it welcomes passengers from October 31 following a three-year build.
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it → sparkle → build
“The Spirit I and II were fantastic ships, but we’ve outgrown those, and we now have these modern ships that we’re very much looking forward to getting back and forth across the Bass Strait,” he says.
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he → outgrow → Strait
The new ships were purpose-built to reflect decades of learnings from this uniquely challenging body of water and the more than 430,000 people who travel aboard annually.
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who → build → water
From swanky lounges and an outdoor sports bar, to leather-clad premium recliners reminiscent of flying business class, local photography and a Tasmanian-centric supplier list, the vessels celebrate the state’s best from the moment guests board.
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guests → clothe → inbox
“We’ve tried really hard to reflect Tasmania as a destination in all ways,” says Tom Wootton, general manager of retail and hospitality.
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Wootton → try → retail
“You can sit by the windows with a bottle of Tasmanian pinot and away you go.”
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you → sit → pinot
Spaces are brighter and wider, with timber-inspired panelling, large portholes, floor-to-ceiling windows, and hallways that cater to diverse accessibility needs.
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that → inspire → needs
Perhaps the most hotly anticipated upgrade are the dedicated pet-friendly cabins, which have four retractable bunks and space for four humans and two dogs.
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which → anticipate → humans
Less touted are the all-abilities cabins, designed in consultation with Equality Building to include cavities for Hoyer lifts and in-room fridges for medications; family cabins for up to six people; and the deluxe recliners, which reach a fully supine pitch, have USB chargers and offer a wider seat base than the standard.
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which → tout → standard
The Cradle Lounge, in shades of mossy green and granite-inspired grey, is slated to circulate Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra music while serving Coal River Farm camembert and warmed Wattle Hill olives; the Mersey Cafe will churn early morning coffees and offer handmade Tasmanian scallop pies; and the Maatsuyker Bar will pair hot-honey wings with live sports, while an improved pizza oven will turn out family-size pizzas.
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oven → inspire → pizzas
The buffet component of Tasmanian Market Kitchen (TMK) is gone and in its place is a “market experience”, with stations for pre-plated seafood, salads, slow-cooked meats, sides and “World Kitchen” dishes.
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experience → go → seafood
(The mini pavlovas, topped with rockmelon cubes and fat Tasmanian berries, follow a Barilla Bay oyster plate, slow-cooked Cape Grim short rib and truffled mash nicely.)
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pavlovas → top → plate
Harrower recommends perching in TMK for Victorian departures, where wider windows open up new sight lines: “From Geelong, [the view out over the bow] is going to be even better because you’ll be able to see the lights of the channel for about an hour and a half.”
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you → recommend → hour
The Visitor Information hub has expanded, and the Huon Bar – an experiential area tucked away on Deck 8 with a 2.5-metre-long Huon pine table – is free for Tasmanian businesses to book to showcase their food, wares or services.
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businesses → expand → food
Two cinemas will show family-friendly flicks and Tasmanian-made short films.
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cinemas → show → flicks
You’ll walk past linocuts and displays from the Tasmanian Philatelic Society as well as arcade games, claw machines and four Xbox stations en route.
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You → walk → route
To earn the designation, the ships were designed with double all the essential infrastructure – two bridges, two engine rooms and two fuel tanks – so they’re equipped to be their own lifeboats in case of emergencies when one system might be impacted.
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system → earn → emergencies
These back-ups provide complete operational redundancies so the ship can look after itself, says general manager of marine operations Dick Hall.
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Hall → provide → operations
Fares start at $49.
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Fares → start → 49
The Aporia
