OPERATORS of the two Spirit of Tasmania ferries say they are buoyed by a slim profit and extra passenger numbers notched up in the past financial year. State-owned TT-Line has coasted to its ninth-consecutive year of financial gains, ending up $1.2million in the black. Its after-tax profit sunk by $9.2million compared with the previous year, but its operating profit for the year rose to $17.5million. Passenger numbers on the Spirits surged by 27,000, with more than 380,000 people sailing across Bass Strait aboard the ferries. The number of people aboard day sailings increased by 20per cent, while the average cost of fares fell 8per cent. The Spirits carried more than 102,000 containers in 2014-15, a slight rise on the year before, setting a new record. The report showed passengers travelling to Tasmania splashed out about $440million in the state last year. The company tipped another $60million into the state’s economy. Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding was excited about the results. ‘‘Passengers are up, freight is up, operational profit is up, cash holdings are up, visitor spend in Tasmania is up and fare prices with $79 fares being advertised, which is a huge discount,’’ he said. The reporting period came before the completion of the refurbishment of the two ships, but wrote off of much of the project costs. Mr Hidding predicted future growth would be full steam ahead now that the $31.5million Spirit refurbishments were completed. ‘‘This refurbishment, along with an increase in day sailings and lower average fares, has already created excitement around the new Spirits,’’ he said. NUMBER CRUNCH TT-Line 2014-15 – After-tax profit: $1.2million (down $9.2million) Passengers: 384,501 (up 8per cent) Containers: 102,309 (up 3800)
OPERATORS of the two Spirit of Tasmania ferries say they are buoyed by a slim profit and extra passenger numbers notched up in the past financial year.
State-owned TT-Line has coasted to its ninth-consecutive year of financial gains, ending up $1.2million in the black.
Its after-tax profit sunk by $9.2million compared with the previous year, but its operating profit for the year rose to $17.5million.
Passenger numbers on the Spirits surged by 27,000, with more than 380,000 people sailing across Bass Strait aboard the ferries.
The number of people aboard day sailings increased by 20per cent, while the average cost of fares fell 8per cent.
The Spirits carried more than 102,000 containers in 2014-15, a slight rise on the year before, setting a new record.
The report showed passengers travelling to Tasmania splashed out about $440million in the state last year.
The company tipped another $60million into the state’s economy.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding was excited about the results.
‘‘Passengers are up, freight is up, operational profit is up, cash holdings are up, visitor spend in Tasmania is up and fare prices with $79 fares being advertised, which is a huge discount,’’ he said.
The reporting period came before the completion of the refurbishment of the two ships, but wrote off of much of the project costs.
Mr Hidding predicted future growth would be full steam ahead now that the $31.5million Spirit refurbishments were completed.
‘‘This refurbishment, along with an increase in day sailings and lower average fares, has already created excitement around the new Spirits,’’ he said.
