By
Rebecca Gibson |
Global ferry association Interferry has chosen Hobart, Tasmania as the location for its 45th annual conference in October 2020, returning for the third time since holding the event in Sydney in 1995 and Gold Coast in 2002.
The 2020 event will follow the October 2018 and 2019 conferences, which will be hosted by Mexican operator Ultramar in Cancun and UK-based line MBNA Thames Clippers in London, respectively.
“We felt it was important to go back to Australia – we have a strong base of members there and they have always been very supportive,” said Mike Corrigan, Interferry CEO. “It’s also another strategically significant opportunity to extend our influence and membership in the Asia-Pacific region following the 2016 conference in Manila.”
Interferry’s 2020 event will be hosted by association member TT-Line Spirit of Tasmania, which provides daily ferry services between Tasmania and mainland Australia. The line will use the conference to update delegates on the two new ferries it has ordered from Germany’s Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft to replace its two existing ships in 2021. Both newbuilds will accommodate 2,000 passengers and offer more than 4,200 lane metres for cars and trucks – a 40% capacity increase from the existing vessels.
“We are truly excited by Interferry’s decision,” said Bernard Dwyer, the company’s CEO. “The conference, combined with several days of networking and social events, is recognised as a must-do experience by industry professionals from all over the world. We can’t wait to welcome them.”
Interferry currently has more than 230 member companies, including operators and suppliers, in 37 countries.