Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Regular shipments of livestock by the State-owned John Duigan from King Island to Devonport have recommenced with the arrival of the John Duigan this morning.
A shipment of livestock was unloaded at the newly constructed $2.4 million roll-on-roll-off (RORO) ramp which will service weekly port calls by the John Duigan and other commercial vessels.
Today's livestock shipment marks a new era for King Island shipping. The Island community, through the King Island Shipping Group, identified Devonport as its preferred mainland Tasmanian port and TasPorts has invested in the infrastructure to deliver this service.
Bass Island Line, a subsidiary of TasPorts, has not carried livestock since 2019, with all livestock to and from King Island since then being carried by an alternative operator.
I am pleased that TasPorts has worked with the King Island community to deliver this service, which I am confident will be well supported, including by the vital primary industry sector that underpins the King Island economy.
The Devonport RORO ramp will provide an efficient and secure supply chain solution connecting King Island to mainland Tasmania, while enabling access to transhipment options to Victoria through the Port of Devonport.
Today's sailing followed a special livestock service requested by Longford-based beef processor JBS last week after a COVID-19 related interruption to an alternative shipping service.
I expect that today's sailing will mark a productive new era of freight shipping for King Island.
