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Spirit of Tasmania V, the second of two 48,000gt ferries built by Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) for Tasmania-based company TT-Line, was delivered at the end of June 2025. The ro-pax ferry will join Spirit of Tasmania IV on the Bass Strait, replacing older, smaller ferries to link Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania.
Offering capacity for 1,800 passengers and 3,700 lane metres for vehicles, the ferries have been designed to operate in rough conditions and are notable for their dual-fuel propulsion systems. RMC collaborated with multiple partners to build both ferries, and this cooperation significantly contributed to the project’s success, according to Mika Nieminen, the shipyard’s CEO and president. Thanking owner TT-Line for an “excellent cooperation”, he said: “The vessel represents the strong shipbuilding expertise found in Rauma and demonstrates the capabilities of the Rauma shipyard. I also want to say thank you to our cooperation partners and the classification society.
Spirit of Tasmania V has been designed to elevate the passenger experience with an array of onboard amenities, including cinemas, dedicated children’s areas, dining options and live entertainment (photo credit: Team Electric)
Team Electric played a key role in the successful construction and delivery of Spirit of Tasmania V, deploying its wide-ranging technical expertise, multidisciplinary project management skills and electrical systems capabilities. As an electrical solutions expert, the company worked for and alongside the shipbuilder on a range of tasks that were integral to delivering the ship to the highest standards.
With a total of 80 to 100 Team Electric engineers onboard at any one time, the company was also required to maximise efficiency to meet project milestones while reporting to different supervisors within RMC. Where technical areas were concerned (engine rooms, workshops, stores and bow thrusters), for example, RMC engaged 30 Team Electric installation engineers to report direct to the yard’s own ship area managers.
Elsewhere, however, Team Electric worked in coordination with Almaco on electrical installations across 301 passenger and 46 crew cabins. Meanwhile, it collaborated with Finnish interiors specialist Orsap on 12 luxury cabins, plus lounges and public areas on decks 9, 10 and 11, with Naval Interior Team (NIT) on restaurants, bars, cinemas and childrens’ areas on deck 8, and with ScanMarine on balconies on decks 8, 9 and 10.
Team Electric also worked with turnkey solution provider Koja to install three air conditioning rooms, deploying engineers all over the ship to take care of related systems work. The Team Electric quality ‘stamp’ was also apparent after a special request from Signwell to install all its low location light services – an extra job also completed on time and on budget.
The entire project consolidated Team Electric’s reputation in the high performance ro-pax ferry market, while also sealing its close ties with TT-Line. Projects of this kind can be complex because they require coordination of different teams in different locations and involve people of multiple nationalities. In addition to making sure Team Electric’s own installation work meets expectations while working alongside plumbers, fitters and others on-site, the company needs to coordinate with the yard and its interiors partners, whose project milestones may not always align.
In the case of Spirit of Tasmania V, the delivery date also changed more than once, adding to the coordination challenge. However, with around 99 per cent of the Team Electric workers that completed Spirit of Tasmania IV at the RMC yard engaged for the second ship, opportunities arose to make efficiency gains. There was a natural progression, where everyone knew what was expected of them on Spirit of Tasmania V. While we also refined workflows and anticipated challenges based on experience; we also knew the issues that were likely to need resolving at the end of the project.
The passage of time between projects brought a regulatory requirement to switch from the USB-A sockets to higher speed USB-C fittings. The change meant a modification ‘on the go’ for all cabins and public spaces, and logistics ingenuity to ensure the timely availability of fittings.
Team Electric’s blend of technical know-how and practical execution has been one key to our selection as preferred partner for the highest profile deliveries in passenger shipping. Electricity is playing a growing role in improving the performance, efficiency and sustainability of ships, and we’re proud that an increasing number of owners, yards and contractors recognise that working with a multidisciplinary electrical systems partner helps to realise the potential.
Aigar Jürise is project manager at Team Electric Group
Aigar Jürise is project manager at Team Electric Group