TT-Line removes Spirit of Tasmania fuel surcharge

Ferry operator TT-Line has removed a 15 per cent fuel surcharge on passenger and vehicle bookings for the Spirit of Tasmania. The decision, effective September 1, comes less than two months before the first voyages of the company’s new vessels are scheduled to begin.

The surcharge was originally introduced on March 31 to mitigate rising global oil prices caused by conflict in the Middle East. By lifting the levy, TT-Line will absorb more than $2 million in unrecovered fuel costs. Chief Executive Chris Carbone stated that removing the charge despite the remaining deficit was done in the “best interest of the Tasmanian visitor economy.”

While passenger and vehicle surcharges have been scrapped, fuel-related pricing for freight remains in place. Following vessel testing, TT-Line plans to conduct 11 trial sailings between October 24 and 30, with the first official passenger voyage for the new vessels set for October 31.