A vessel chartered by Australia's SeaRoad Shipping departed Cape Town, South Africa, earlier this week and is scheduled to arrive at Melbourne on March 26.
Owned by Siem Europe of Norway, the 2020-built Liekut will service the Bass Strait route to and from Tasmania until SeaRoad's new Ro-Ro vessel is completed.
In preparation for Liekut's arrival, SeaRoad has invested AU$15 million (US$) in developing the East Devonport terminal in Tasmania. This includes fendering, berth strengthening, and mooring bollards works, which are currently being completed for the 210-metre-long ship.
Meanwhile, in Melbourne, AU$600,000 (US$) of fendering relocation, pile restoration, and mooring bollards works are also close to completion.
Liekut will conduct its maiden, non-commercial, voyage from Melbourne on April 1, arriving in Devonport on April 2 for operational testing. The ship will then depart Devonport on its first commercial voyage on April 5 and travel to Webb Dock, Port Melbourne overnight, arriving on April 6.
