For years, seeing the famous red ferry at Station Pier was about as normal as seagulls stealing chips. But since regular Spirit services shifted to Geelong in 2022, its appearance in Port Melbourne has had the energy of spotting your ex in your local supermarket: familiar, slightly confusing, and guaranteed to get people talking.
Some onlookers were said to be briefly overcome by muscle memory, half-expecting someone in a fluoro vest to start waving cars aboard for Devonport. Others simply stood there looking delighted, like Melburnians who’d just discovered a retro pop-up nobody told them about.
There is, of course, a perfectly sensible explanation: the brand-new Spirit of Tasmania V has been temporarily berthed at Station Pier while awaiting the next stage of its fit-out, even though normal passenger sailings still run from Geelong. While it’s twin sister is also dock over the way at Williamstown.
So no, the ferry hasn’t forgotten its new address; it’s just dropping by the old neighbourhood like a celebrity making a surprise cameo. Regular Spirit operations moved from Station Pier to Geelong, with the first sailing from the new Geelong terminal taking place in 2022, which helps explain why the sight of the ship back at Port Melbourne has caused such collective eyebrow movement.
Officials have not confirmed whether the vessel received a warm welcome from Station Pier itself, but if wharfies were watching from the local pub and saw double Spirits, they might have ordered another double Bundy.
For now, the twin Spirit’s stay is only temporary, probably until early june, while they wait for a berth in Hobart for final fit out. Enough time to charm the nostalgics, confuse the casual observers and remind everyone that while Geelong may be the new home, Port Melbourne still knows how to make an entrance feel dramatic.
The sister ferry Spirit of Tasmania IV is docked at Williamstown. They are both scheduled to officially enter active passenger service across the Bass Strait on 31 October.
