The largest export contract between Finland and Australia was signed in April 2021, when the Australian TT-Line Company ordered two Ro-Pax vessels from Rauma Marine Constructions Ltd. (RMC). The sister ships Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, with modern dual-fuel engines (LNG), are optimized for harsh Tasmanian sea conditions and created 3,100 person-years of work for RMC and its supply chain. These vessels will replace their predecessors, built in Finland in the 1990s, which were significantly smaller.
The vessels, with a length of 212 m, a width of 31 m, and a draft of 7 m, have a gross tonnage (GT) of 48,000 and a service speed of 26 knots. Each ship has 4,100 lane meters of cargo and vehicle capacity and can accommodate 1,800 passengers with 301 cabins. The vessels are equipped with numerous restaurants and entertainment facilities, including two cinemas.
Spirit of Tasmania IV and V will operate in Australia between Geelong (Melbourne) and Devonport (Tasmania), providing a vital link to the island state. The ships sail across Bass Strait, known for its challenging conditions, strong winds, high waves, and rapidly changing weather. Their operability in demanding conditions was ensured by expert design, construction, and sea trials.
During the sea trials, all systems were inspected jointly with the classification society Lloyd’s Register, TT-Line, and RMC. All systems, including dual-fuel engines, navigation, and steering, were tested. The trials were carried out in two separate stages in the waters off Rauma: the first run with diesel (usually the longer trial), followed by LNG. According to sea trial captain Heikki Koivisto, the vessels were expertly built to meet the demanding requirements of their operating area. For example, maneuvering trials confirmed that the ships can be berthed even in crosswinds exceeding 20 m/s (approximately 39 knots).
The institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2022. Both are members of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). SAMK and AMC have already successfully secured international competitive funding for two collaborative research projects through IAMU/Nippon Foundation. The last project that examined the role of marine engineers on future autonomous ships utilised the Spirit of Tasmania IV as one of the data-collection sites. The researchers have also co-authored numerous academic articles.
Director Stephen Hurd, who has twice visited Rauma and toured Spirit of Tasmania IV while under construction, has been pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly Finnish and Australian industrial collaboration has merged into SAMK–AMC cooperation. The Finnish maritime cluster is unique on a global scale. SAMK and AMC’s future collaboration plan includes studying the performance of Spirit of Tasmania IV and V in challenging sea conditions, alongside numerous educational and research initiatives.
Spirit of Tasmania IV was delivered in autumn 2024. At the Rauma shipyard, completion of Spirit of Tasmania V was celebrated with an open-house event and fireworks on the evening of 29 October 2025, just before departure. The open day attracted thousands of Rauma residents to wish the vessel a safe journey. On 30 October 2025, Spirit of Tasmania V departed Rauma for Australia via Scotland. Included among those on board were two SAMK students from the deck and engine departments, completing their supervised training. The ship deal has thus become a lasting bridge between two geographically distant regions: Finland and Australia.
Minna M. Keinänen-Toivola (Chief Researcher, Adjunct Professor, PhD, MBA), Heikki Koivisto (Master Mariner, Project Manager)
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Maritime Logistics Research Center
Stephen Hurd (Director, Centre for Seafaring and Maritime Operations), Gholam Reza Emad (Dr., Senior Lecturer, Head of C-HELM Research Centre)
University of Tasmania, Australian Maritime College
