Tasmania’s Devonport Berth Three project has achieved a significant construction milestone following the completion of its final gantry superstructure lift.

The project is working to relocate the operational base of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service – which runs from Devonport to Geelong, Victoria – from the existing Terminal One to the new Spirit Quay Devonport at Terminal Three.

At seven hectares, the new facility will offer more than double the space of the current headquarters.

The project’s latest gantry structure weighs more than 740 tonnes, stands more than 27 metres tall and is 38 metres wide comprising seven sections.

Principal contractor BMD will now complete the gantry’s ‘fitout’ – adding necessary components for operations such as linkspans, hydraulics, handrails and guardrails.

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Kerry Vincent, State Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, thanked BMD and its partner contractors for completing the highly complex work.

“740 tonnes is hard to imagine, which made the successful installation of every single piece incredibly important,” he said.

“This successful completion is fantastic, marking months of complex planning and precision construction work.

““The delivery of Berth Three is progressing well, and is shaping up to be an incredible welcoming to everyone that comes to Tasmania on our new Spirits.”

Ken Kanofski, Chairman of the company TT-Line which operates Spirit of Tasmania ferries, said the gantry was a critical piece of the terminal’s infrastructure.

“The gantry supports four steel ramps that connect the concrete ramp to the new ships for the loading and unloading of vehicles,” he said.

“Now that the gantry has been completed, the company is planning to test both of the new ships on the gantry in August.”