Spirit of Tasmania contract awarded to Fairbrother

The Rockliff Liberal Government is doing what matters for all Tasmanians and investing in the infrastructure our growing State needs for today and into the future.

We’re very pleased to confirm that Fairbrother is the latest Tasmanian company to be awarded a contract to provide product for the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels currently under construction in Finland by Rauma Marine Construction (RMC).

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said Fairbrother joined an extensive list of Tasmanian companies already involved in the provision of goods and services for the new ships.

“The Rockliff Liberal Government secured a commitment to incorporate up to $100 million in local content for our new Spirits. Thanks to this, we are delivering for dozens of Tasmanian businesses which are being awarded contracts to provide goods, services or content for the new vessels,” he said.

“Pleasingly, Spirit of Tasmania and RMC continue to work closely with Tasmanian companies to provide similar opportunities.”

Fairbrother general manager Northern Tasmania Marcus Perkins said the company would manufacture more than 300 tables for the new vessels.

“There will be 33 different types of tables being constructed of high-quality Tasmanian Oak, Huon Pine and laminate products,” he said.

“All of the work will be undertaken in our Devonport facility, utilising local suppliers wherever possible.”

Mr Perkins said the company had previously provided counter and bar refurbishments, lean bars, restaurant and shop glazing, banquet seating, slatted timber screening, laminate wall lining and table tops for the refurbishment of the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

“Both the refurbishment work in 2015 and the contract we are announcing today has provided us with an important opportunity to promote our skill set and capability to the international marine fit out industry,” he said.

Fairbrother employs 350 full-time employees across Tasmania.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Independent Beverage Systems (TIBS) operations manager Rick Cabalzar has recently returned from a very successful trip to the RMC shipyards in Finland.

TIBS, a Tasmanian family-owned business, is supplying the beer and post mix equipment for the new vessels.

Mr Cabalzar said it was the first time he had travelled overseas for the business.

“I travelled to Finland to undertake what we call a rough-in – that is installation of all the pipes before RMC close up the ship,” he said.

“I am expecting to travel back to Finland in March for the final fit out work.”

RMC is one of Europe’s largest shipbuilding companies which specialises in the construction and maintenance of car and passenger ferries, icebreakers and defence vessels.

More information is available at: rmcfinland.fi

More information about the new ships is available at: newships.spiritoftasmania.com.au