Launceston-based Tasmanian Logistics Committee chairman and Net Sea Freight finance manager Steve Henty said yesterday that Tasmania's transport issues were complex.

He was commenting on suggestions that state government-owned TT-Line wants to lease and operate a freight ship, along with the freight-passenger Spirit of Tasmania service between Devonport and Melbourne.

A spokesman said the government did not comment on matters before cabinet.

Mr Henty said he did not have any details, but adding a ship that gave the Spirits more tourism capacity could be good, though  competing against existing private freight operators could be bad.

He said the Spirits carried 20 per cent of the state's freight, which competed for space on them   with tourists bringing their cars and caravans.

Less freight would free space for vehicles, boosting tourism.

But if TT-Line increased its market share, that could threaten the operations of private operators Toll and SeaRoad.

Mr Henty said the ultimate answer may be for Tasmania to move up the value chain.

He said a container of onions may sell for $6000-$8000 and cost $2000-$3000 to export, but a container of broccoli would sell for much more with the same shipping costs, meaning freight was a smaller fraction of the total cost.

Opposition infrastructure spokesman Rene Hidding said the TT-Line issue was a power struggle between Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne and Premier Lara Giddings, and the Liberals  would spend up to $33 million over three years to secure the reintroduction of an international shipping service to key Asian ports.

Freight Logistics Co-ordination Team chairman Phil Clark declined to comment and Bell Bay Industry Group convenor Bob Gozzi could not be contacted.