Spirit Partners – a partnership comprising Australian and Tasmanian companies appointed to relocate Spirit of Tasmania’s Devonport base of operations from its existing terminal to Terminal 3 – has started construction of the main vehicle loading ramps.
This represents an important milestone as the building of the berth works now gets underway.
Tasmanian company Bridgepro Engineering, one of three Tasmanian firms in the construction partnership, will begin driving 100 piles, ranging from eight to 15-metres in length, for the project’s fixed shore ramp.
The work will be completed by a 25-metre-tall drilling rig that has been mobilised to the site.
Approximately 60 per cent of the pile driving work is expected to be completed by Christmas, subject to geotechnical conditions and weather.
Spirit Partners comprises BMD Constructions and Fitzgerald Constructions Australia, which delivered Spirit of Tasmania’s Geelong Port facility, together with Bridgepro Engineering and other Tasmanian companies Gradco and Vos Constructions.
Through the partnership with the three Tasmanian firms, Spirit Partners is providing local employment opportunities to the project.
More than 50 per cent will be delivered by the local partners which have indicated that they will employ additional apprentices and tradespeople to specifically work on the development.
At seven hectares, the site is almost double the size of Spirit of Tasmania’s current lease.
It will be located on a previously undeveloped parcel of land between SeaRoad Shipping and the Mersey Yacht Club and will provide additional operational areas for passenger and freight customers.
