ONE passenger's shot at getting a tonne of bullets aboard the Spirit of Tasmania has backfired after it triggered a review into the carriage of ammunition on the ferry.
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The Examiner understands a Victorian firearm dealer recently tried to board the ship with a 100 slabs of bullets but was turned away by the Spirit's captain.
As a result the Spirit's owner TT-Line has holstered a relaxed approach to ammunition carriage and is now enforcing a five kilogram limit for each passenger.
The aim is to comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code while it carries out the review, but the new arrangement has put some gun owners in a spin.
From today the Tasmanian Clay Target Association is holding its four-day carnival and organisers are worried that competing mainlanders coming across on the Spirit may be affected by the clampdown.
According to the organiser most entrants like to bring their own bullets and are probably unaware of the new limit.
"It's just an issue that needs tidying up for all in Tasmania," association secretary Alan Styles said.
Large firearm events often attract interstate gun dealers looking to sell ammunition, an industry source told The Examiner.
But Graham Blaskett, manager at Launceston gun store Sports Hut, is less worried about interstate competition than he is about using the Spirit to travel to the mainland.
Mr Blaskett competes with a shotgun in interstate events and said his ammunition would weigh up to 30 kilograms.
"I do think they should be able to lift the limit more than five kilograms if you apply," he said.
A TT-Line spokesman said, however, that the company was "not in a position to issue any exemptions in respect to these carriage requirements".
"TT-Line is currently reviewing its policy and will reaffirm our obligations, limits, requirements and expectations in the future," he said.
Tasmanian firearm services, a division of Tasmania Police, was unsurprised the Spirit's captain had refused to carry the tonne of bullets.
"A tonne of ammo can cause all kinds of problem if it goes off, especially on a ship," one officer said.
The issue of firearms aboard the Spirit is likely to spark debate given the issue is rarely aired in public.
Currently firearm owners must hand in their guns and ammunition to staff when they board the Spirit. All firearms must be stored in a secure case or trigger locked.
Mr Blaskett said the Sports Hut used a freight service to import ammunition. The cost was usually twice normal cargo rates because ammunition was a hazardous good.