State Government as powerless as troubled
ferry while SeaLink sails on unpunished
POWER PLAY: SA Transport Minister Joe Szakacs on Kangaroo Island in May, and SeaLink's second new ferry Ruwi remains in Indonesia undergoing extensive electrical work that has delayed its arrival again.
By DANIEL CLARKE
18/08/26
The State Government only learnt about another delay to the arrival of troubled new ferry Ruwi after it chased SeaLink for answers about its whereabouts last week, the Island Independent has been told.
The revelation comes after Transport Minister Joe Szakacs said he was effectively powerless to enforce punishment on the company for continued delays to the start of its new ferry service.
Adding further intrigue, he said SeaLink was incorrect to assert that the government’s contract with the company muzzled it from talking publicly without his permission.
This is despite SeaLink's SA General Manager Tracy Croft telling the Island Independent in April, along with the ABC last month, that commentary had to be approved by the State Government “before we're allowed to release media statements”.
A clearly frustrated Minister Szakacs said he was “very concerned” by the latest delay, meaning SeaLink will miss its third promised deadline in the last 12 months for a service that was initially planned to start in 2024.
The company said a temporary pipe failed during harbour commissioning and final testing of Ruwi’s fire deluge system in Indonesia, spewing water over the vessel’s electrical components that now require replacement.
A three-day temporary shutdown of the ferry service to upgrade infrastructure at Penneshaw and Cape Jervis ports has been pushed back from early September to the mid week dates of October 20-22, frustrating business owners across the island during the the busy Spring tourist and livestock season.
Further limits to travel will continue after the shutdown, with only the old Sealion 2000 vessel in operation for the following “three to four days” before both new ferries come into operation in November, though the company has not specified a start date.
When asked on ABC Radio whether he was confident this would be the final delay to the start of the new ferry service on the essential travel route, Minister Szakacs said “I don’t have a finite answer on that”.
Despite stating in April that he was “disappointed in the advice that we've been receiving from SeaLink and I've made that clear and sought additional information”, it appears that warning has gone unheeded by the company.
“Frustratingly, the State Government had to chase SeaLink for information and only learnt about this latest delay after making enquiries of its whereabouts,” Minister Szakacs told the Island Independent yesterday.
“I’ve expressed my deep frustration to SeaLink management that they have let down Kangaroo Islanders with yet another delay to the delivery of their second new ferry for Kangaroo Island services.”
On ABC Radio earlier in the day, Minister Szakacs indicated he was no better informed than island residents when it came to SeaLink’s updates.
“I’m in a position unfortunately like the rest of the island and tourism operators where we need to take SeaLink’s word for these things,” he told the ABC Radio Adelaide’s Breakfast program.
“But I will be upfront with you that I expressed to them how displeased I have been with the delay again with the communication to me and the island.”
When asked why the company can’t be penalised under the contractual agreement with the government, Minister Szakacs said, “I’m not going to speak on the details of a commercial contract”.
“What I can say with great confidence to you is that the ability for the government to take measures to remedy the situation that would not materially blow up the transport for the island is extremely limited.”
SeaLink has escaped any punishment from the State Government for its ongoing delays apart from the removal of a mooted livestock freight cost increase that had yet to be implemented.
The Island Independent asked SeaLink if it accepted the Minister’s assertion that the government does not restrict the company from speaking publicly, and if it had therefore misled the public in its earlier statements.
“SeaLink is committed to working with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to improve the way we communicate with them, the Minister, and the community,” a spokesperson for the company said.
“This is a very complex transition with many moving parts and rapidly evolving developments which makes it difficult to commit 100% to certain dates weeks and months in advance.
“Our immediate focus remains on getting Ruwi to South Australia as soon as possible whilst also maintaining a safe and reliable ferry service for Kangaroo Island throughout the transition.”