The Minister for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, the honourable Patrick Conlon MP, broke the ‘ceremonial' champagne across the bow and addressed approximately 100 invited guests at a special naming ceremony for Sea SA’s newest ferry, Sea Spirit 1, in Wallaroo on 7 April 2008.
With the capacity to carry up to 300 passengers and 92 vehicles of all sizes, the new $16 million catamaran, has joined forces with the company’s smaller ferry, Sea Scape 1, to forge a new tourist trail and major transport route between the Yorke and
Eyre
Peninsulas.
Environmental, social and economic benefits for both regions were a direct spin off of the creation of Sea SA’s new ferry venture, the Minister said.
“The new ferry further strengthens the ability for freight to use this transport route and presents opportunities for economic development in this region,” Minister Conlon said. “As a State Government we are continually looking for ways to increase efficiencies for transport especially in the freight industry and this new vessel is another significant step forward.”
Sea SA Managing Director, Stephanie Dawson, said the new service was proving popular with the travelling public, with more than 100,000 passengers choosing the sea route in the company's first 15 months of trading.
”We would like to thank the people of South Australia for embracing this service, and the state and federal governments for showing their support by currently undertaking to seal the Lucky Bay Road from the ferry terminal to the Lincoln Highway,” Ms Dawson said.
“People have discovered how the ferry can save on time and driver fatigue, but they are also making an environmentally smarter choice than road travel,” Stephanie said. “We won an Australian Marine Environment Protection Association award because two ferries on this route produce just 733 tonnes of Co2 annually, while to drive around the Gulf, the same volume of vehicles would produce 34 times as much greenhouse gas.”
Sea Spirit 1 operates every day across the Spencer Gulf between Wallaroo and Lucky Bay, and features mezzanine car deck, air-conditioned café, hospitality lounges, disabled access including an onboard lift, two widescreen plasma TVs, kids’ play zone, internet area and tourism booth. Bookings are essential and can be made on line at www.seasa.com.au or at the ticket office on 08 – 8823 0777.
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