History
Tasmanian Steamers Pty Ltd commenced in 1922 with three ships. The Oonah (originally on the Sydney-Hobart route) was operated along with Loongana and Nairana until 1935 when Oonah and Loongana were replaced by the Taroona.
In 1959 the Australian National Line took over the service, and from 1959 to 1972, the Princess of Tasmania made crossings between Melbourne and Devonport. The cargo-only Bass Trader carried heavy vehicles from Melbourne to Tasmania until the Australian Trader was added in 1969 with services from Melbourne to Burnie, Devonport and Bell Bay (Launceston) in rotation.
From 1965 to 1972, the Empress of Australia made three crossings per fortnight from Sydney to Hobart, Bell Bay and Burnie. In 1972 the Empress replaced the Princess on the Melbourne to Devonport route and the Australian Trader moved to the Sydney-Tasmania routes.
The Tasmanian Government's TT-Line took over the service from 1985 when the Abel Tasman replaced the Empress and made six weekly overnight crossings between Devonport and Melbourne. It was replaced by the Spirit of Tasmania in 1993.
In the summer months of 1998 to 2002, TT-Line in conjunction with SeaCat Tasmania, also operated the high speed catamaran Devil Cat between Melbourne and George Town near Bell Bay. The trip took 6 hours.
In 2002 the Spirit was replaced with the two ferries previously owned by Superfast Ferries – Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II, with two crossings each night leaving simultaneously from Melbourne and Devonport.
From January 2004 to June 2006 a third ship, Spirit of Tasmania III, operated on the Devonport to Sydney route.
There are also a ferry services from Bridport, Tasmania to Flinders Island and Port Welshpool, Victoria.
Read more about this topic: Bass Strait Ferries
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