SeaLink takes shipbuilder to court over delivery of second Kangaroo Island ferry

SeaLink, which holds the state contract to run the Kangaroo Island ferry service until at least 2039, has begun proceedings in the Federal Court's admiralty jurisdiction against Sea Transport SA Pty Ltd, the company contracted to supply the second of two new ferries. SeaLink is seeking orders that the vessel, Ruwi, be delivered from the shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, where it remains.

Sea Transport founder and chairman Stuart Ballantyne told the ABC that SeaLink had cancelled the contract when the ship was almost ready to leave the yard for Adelaide, and that his company was cooperating while the lawyers sort it out.

The two larger ferries were originally expected in service by early 2025. The first, Wanggami, arrived in Port Adelaide in April 2026 and will enter service later this month alongside one of the existing ferries. All services will stop for three days next week while new vehicle ramps are installed at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw.

South Australia's Transport Minister Joe Szakacs said SeaLink had missed a number of deadlines, and that it had agreed to bring in promised vehicle fare reductions for islanders straight away. The case is due back in court on 13 November.