Searoad Mersey II is home

The cleanest, greenest freight ship ever to trade in Australian waters made a triumphant

arrival at its home port, Devonport, this morning.

Under the command of Captain Lloyd Cahill, Searoad Mersey II sailed up its namesake river, where crowds lined the banks to wave and cheer an enthusiastic welcome.

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Searoad Mersey II left its German builders in early November and voyaged to Australia via fuel and supplies stopovers in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Cape Town in South Africa and Fremantle in Western Australia.

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Capt Cahill said it was by far the finest ship he had ever had the honour to command.

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“This is truly represents a new era for Australian shipping and especially for Tasmanian exporters and importers, and it leads the world with its pioneering LNG refuelling system,” Capt Cahill said.

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“It’s a technological marvel that was conceived and championed by Tasmanians, and its environmental credentials fit so well with the image the state is known for worldwide.

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”The $110 million project has been driven by the chairman of SeaRoad Holdings, Devonport’s Chas Kelly, who was an excited and satisfied watcher this morning.

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“I am a proud and committed Tasmanian and to have this vessel call Devonport its home port is even more special to me,” Mr Kelly said.

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“Tasmania has needed this vessel for the past few years and its arrival gives SeaRoad a 50% increase in our available capacity to move freight between Tasmania and the mainland, all year round.

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”After official welcome celebrations tomorrow and some necessary preparatory work Searoad Mersey II will make its first commercial sailing from Devonport on Wednesday evening, for Melbourne. Together with fleetmate Searoad Tamar the ships will ensure local shops are filled with Christmas goodies while mainland and overseas markets receive the state’s freshest and finest produce.

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Tasmanians will be able to personally inspect the freight decks of Searoad Mersey II – which is more than twice the size of the original Searoad Mersey – at an Open Day next Sunday, December 18, from 12 to 5pm at East Devonport.

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Searoad Mersey will continue to service King Island, and also Bass Strait when Searoad Tamar undergoes routine drydocking in Western Australia late this month.

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Footnote: Tomorrow, Monday, in what will be an historic coming together, Searoad Mersey and Searoad Mersey II will be at adjoining berths at the SeaRoad terminal at East Devonport. Spectators will be able to make an instant comparison of the old and the new.

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Media contacts:

Valencia Khan (03) 9644 4049 / 0458 006 409

v.khan@searoad.net

Chas Kelly, by arrangement

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