The Bruny Island ferry Mirambeena en route from Kettering to Roberts Point

The Bruny Island Ferry links Bruny Island to the Tasmanian mainland. Bruny Island ( is an island off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, from which it is separated by the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Operated by North Western Shipping and Towage Co. Pty Ltd and owned by the Tasmanian Government, the ferry Mirambeena travels between Kettering on the Tasmanian mainland and Roberts Point on Bruny Island. The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution which dates from 1856 although it has been amended many times since then Kettering, Tasmania is a coastal town on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The service is subsidised by the Tasmanian Government. In Economics, a subsidy (also known as a subvention is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector

History

Four ferries have operated on the route since 1954:

• S. S. Melba (1954-1961, then as a reserve until approximately 1977)
• Mangana (1961-early 1980's, then as a reserve for the Harry O'May until 1991)
• Harry O'May (early 1980's-early 1990's)
• Mirambeena (early 1990's-)

S. S. Melba

The S. S. Melba was built in 1921 as a cargo steamer to operate on the Derwent River. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar The Derwent is a River in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes She commenced operations as a single-deck vehicular ferry on the Bruny Island run on December 13 1954^[1], with a capacity of 22 cars^[2]. She was the primary Bruny Island ferry until the arrival of the Mangana in 1961. After that date, she continued on the Bruny Island run, assisting during peak periods and when the Mangana was under repair.

In 1975, the partial collapse of Hobart's Tasman Bridge created an urgent short-term need for ferries operating across the Derwent River. Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane Bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The Derwent is a River in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes The Melba, despite frequent strandings due to her deep draft, operated between Hobart and Bellerive.

Mangana

The Mangana, originally known as the George Peat, was one of two 42. 06 metre-long single-deck ferries built in 1930 to operate a service across the Hawkesbury River. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Hawkesbury River is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. ^[3]

After a stint operating on Auckland Harbour, the 42. 06 metre long ship (now known as the Ewan W. Alison) was purchased by the Tasmanian Government in 1959. Although both the Ewan W. Alison and its sister ship the Alexander Alison were purchased from their New Zealand operators for use on the Bruny Island run, the Alexander Alison sunk on April 30, 1960 while being towed across the Tasman Sea. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, some 2000 Kilometres (1250 Miles across Seven months later, the Mangana was successfully towed across the Tasman, and commenced operations on the Bruny Island run on March 27, 1961. The Mangana was named for a Chief of the Bruny Island people, whose daughter Truganini is generally considered to have been the last full-blooded Tasmanian Aborigine. Truganini (ca 1812 – May 8 1876) is the person generally considered to be the last "full blood" Tasmanian Aborigine.

The Melba stayed on to fill the gap left by the loss of the Mangana's sister ship.

The Mangana, with a capacity of 37 cars^[4], was the primary Bruny Island ferry until the early 1980's, staying on as a reserve ferry for the Harry O'May until 1991. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar.

Harry O'May

Formerly the Hong Kong ferry Man On, the Harry O'May operated the Bruny Island route in the 1980's and 90's. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Its two decks greatly increased carrying capacity relative to the smaller earlier ferries.

Move from Barnes Bay to Roberts Point

Prior to 1983, the Bruny Island end of the ferry service terminated at Barnes Bay. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The trip from Kettering to Barnes Bay took around 35 minutes. The change of route to terminate at Roberts Point meant that the one-way trip time was reduced to 12 minutes. ^[5]

Mirambeena

The Mirambeena began operation on the Bruny Island run in the early 1990's. Completed in 1991, it is a 52 metre two-deck ferry equipped with a Voith-Schneider propulsion system. The Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP also known as a cycloidal drive is a specialized marine propulsion system ^[6]

The much smaller M. V. 'Southern Condor' has operated the route while the Mirambeena is undergoing service.

External Links

• Bruny Island Ferry Timetable

References