"Water was coming into her cabin and she thought we were going to sink," she said. "Some cargo and passenger vehicles shifted on the overnight crossing from Melbourne to Devonport. Wild ride for Spirit of Tasmania ferry passengers | 'Spirit of Tasmania' passengers have described a Bass Strait crossing as a voyage from hell, after they ploughed through 12 metre waves. display: none; Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. if(force != '' && all_links.href.search(force) != -1) { One traveller posted on Twitter about the journey to Devonport saying she deserves a medal after enduring the swell. Spirit of Tasmania 2,105 Reviews #6 of 31 things to do in Devonport Transportation, Ferries Devonport, Tasmania, Australia Open today: 8:00 am - 8:30 pm Save Kerrie-Ann G Bendigo, Australia 5 11 Rough Sailing Review of Spirit of Tasmania Reviewed 9 January 2014 The crew were great, especially David (Security). The vessel SPIRIT OF TASMANIA 1 (IMO: 9158446, MMSI 503432000) is a Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship built in 1998 (25 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Australia . The ferry company says that the strait is closed to all traffic due to heavy rains and debris in the Mersey River on the northwest coast of Tasmania. f.parentNode.insertBefore( j, f ); The easiest way to avoid rough seas is to make sure you always have the latest forecast. You can improve your chances of having a smooth crossing by being prepared and staying vigilant. On board, you'll find excellent facilities, comfortable cabins and plenty of space. The sky is clear with a chance of rain 0%. The monster seas were whipped up by the cold blast. As others reported the banging from below in the bow on the boat is horrendous . Will take an eye mask next time as there are some lights that remain on. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-W5PMGDG' ); Further along the bay, the Kerferd Road pier at Middle Park suffered buckled railings and splintered planks. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? If I go again I would prefer a day sail or a cabin! The City of Port Phillip reported most beaches were damaged, with Middle Park beach almost gone. WATCH: Absolutely Hectic Seas Almost Tip Over The Spirit Of Tasmania, Cyclone Seth Is Wreaking Absolute Havoc, With Severe Weather Warnings Issued For Southeast Aus, Winds Throw Jumping Castle 10 Metres Into The Air, Killing A Tassie Child And Injuring Others, Tasmania Will Open Its Borders To NSW Next Friday After Declaring The State A Low-Risk Zone, Sydney Teenager Killed After Attempting Parkour Jump At Tasmania Blowhole. "That's gonna be one huge insurance claim," said one passenger of the carnage below-decks. { After reading other travellers posts about the Tazzy weather, rough seas and travelling on the SOT we wanted to get it right. function external_links_in_new_windows_loop() { ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Video filmed on board shows huge swells battering the ship, before the person filming is knocked to the ground. It was completely the opposite of the night sail. However, the ideal sailing season for the Tasman Sea is generally between November to March. Food on boosts was a little pricey. The Netherlands The easiest way to avoid rough seas is . Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com // console.log('force ' + all_links.href); If youre planning to venture into the Tasman Sea, there are a few things to bear in mind that can help make your journey easier. A Spirit of Tasmania spokesperson said the ship is designed to cope with various types of weather conditions and it did not miss its crossing. They were right. Can dementia be spotted in CHILDHOOD? Tasmania Police were in East Devonport when the Spirit of Tasmania 1 finally docked at 2pm yesterday to interview passengers and gather other evidence. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. The Tasman Seas mid-ocean ridge, formed when Australia and New Zealand broke apart between 85 and 55 million years ago, is the largest underwater ridge in the region but there are many smaller ones too. Passengers on board the Spirit of Tasmania were left shaken on Monday night after wild seas toyed with the ship as it left Melbourne. Footage showed the vessel being engulfed by the waves. the ferry crossing with a family. Spirit of Tasmania III operated under TT-Line from 2003 until 2006, sailing the Devonport to Sydney route. They will pass on all information to their counterparts in Victoria. Spirit of Tasmania: Wild weather as Bass Strait swell causes passengers to be sick | The Mercury 10 hours in a deck chair on the Bass Strait crossing from hell "The Spirit lunged to one side, sending everything flying and items crashing in cafes and bars. We did the night crossing and got some sleep. During the voyage, passengers suspected there had been movement on the parking decks. Were working to restore it. Where the waters meet, the waves swell and as a result, the Tasman Sea can be extremely rough and unpredictable. external_links_in_new_windows_load(external_links_in_new_windows_loop); The recliners are uncomfortable and cramped and in many cases your allocated seat will be taken by another traveller and you have to follow suit if you want to try and sleep. US firms waiting in the wings read to pump 'billions Parents' fury as schools STILL won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow as teacher strikes continue. Her IMO number is 9158434 and MMSI number is 503433000. "The cars had just slammed into each other because of how rough it was," he said. The Tasman Sea is regarded by many sailors as being one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. Waters were so rough, in fact, that a truck came loose on the ships car deck, tilting the trailer over and damaging several nearby cars. change_link = false; These two monohull vessels replaced the original MV Spirit of Tasmania, making their dual maiden voyages across Bass Strait on 1 September, 2002. A large semi-trailer was turned on its side and cars smashed together during the journey from Melbourne to Devonport. The ship itself was undamaged, but the rough weather and high winds caused delays to both ships coming. By signing up, you agree to Pedestrian Group's Terms of Service and consent to our Privacy Policy. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. Let me tell you that the best time to cross the Tasman from NZ to Aus, is after the cyclone season, and that makes it End April to end may for a safe crossing It has been some years since I last caught the spirit, and there have been some cosmetic changes, on ageing ships. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. Bluff Park: Relaxing place - See 19 traveler reviews, 18 candid photos, and great deals for Devonport, Australia, at Tripadvisor. color: yellow!important; Huge swells and high winds made for a rough journey on the Spirit of Tasmania on Tuesday (May 03). One of the worst seas in the world is the Irminger Sea between Iceland and South Greenland. Another dismayed passenger said the first she knew the vessel had returned was when she looked out of her cabin in the morning and saw high-rise buildings "and I thought that doesn't look like Tasmania". On Monday night (May 02), only hours after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for 100km/h winds across much of Victoria and Tasmania, the ship left Melbourne for its . It is also one of the stormiest seas. "The waves are now lapping against the bluestone wall. About us As the name suggests, it runs south down the Australian east coast from the tropics, specifically from the Coral Sea. } Main ship particulars are length of 195 m and beam of 26 m. Travel Time. If you did book a cabin for the trip, by the time you put your gear into your cabin and came back out you were too late get a seat because people had dumped all their gear in and around all the chairs and lounges. A stiff cold front cross over the state brought high winds and storms with it that battered coastal regions with winds up to, and over, 100km/h. var change_link = false; .podcast-banner.show_mobile { he adds as waves crash over the side. "All of sudden there was one big wave and we all went sideways," she said. What is the Distance Between Australia and New Zealand via the Tasman Sea? var force = ''; Another passenger posted photos to Facebook showing the "carnage" below deck. dm.AjaxData.push({ et: et,d: d,ssid: ssid,ad: ad}); This time of year is summer in the Southern Hemisphere so the weather tends to be fairer than during the rest of the year. The oldest & Dad head off to explore and get a seat for the 1st movie sitting & Mum settles for quiet time with a book with jnr snoring in the background..*It is agreed beforehand & understood by all that the ferry ride is for getting a good nights sleep before starting the holiday/to recover from the holiday.4. for (var t=0; t