To prepare for the new ferries, the Cape Jervis and Penneshaw terminals will be shutdown for three days from October 20. (Facebook: SeaLink)
In short:
Sealink has launched legal action to have the second of two Kangaroo Island ferries delivered to Australia.
The chairman of the company contracted to deliver the ferry says he is surprised at the action.
What's next?
The first of the new ferries will start operating later this month in conjunction with one of the older boats.
The operators of the Kangaroo Island Ferry have launched legal action to have the second of two new ferries delivered to Australia from a shipyard in Indonesia.
Sealink has a contract with the state government to provide ferry services to Kangaroo Island until at least 2039.
Two larger ferries providing 150 metres of additional vehicle space were contracted to be built in a shipyard in Batam, Indonesia and were initially expected to be in service by early 2025.
After a series of delays, the first of the new ferries arrived in Port Adelaide in April 2026.
The second of the new ferries, named Ruwi, is still in a shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. (Supplied: SeaLink)
Orders sought
In a media statement published yesterday, Sealink said it had commenced proceedings in the Federal Court admiralty jurisdiction against Sea Transport SA Pty Ltd, the company contracted to supply the second ferry, seeking orders that it be delivered.
Sea Transport founder and chairman Stuart Ballantyne said he was limited in what he could say.
"Sealink basically cancelled the contract when we were about 99 per cent of the point of getting it out of the shipyard and starting the delivery to Adelaide, which surprised us," he said.
"But they've taken it legal and when you cancel a contract, we've just had to bow back and wait for the legal people to sort it out."
Mr Ballantyne said his company was being as cooperative as possible.
"When somebody decides to sue you, that's their choice," he said.
The first of the ferries currently berthed in Port Adelaide will commence service later this month, although in conjunction with one of the old ferries.
To allow this to happen, all ferry services will be halted for three days next week so new vehicle ramps can be installed at the terminals at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw.
The Sealion will remain in service and operate with the first of the new ferries until the second one is in place. (ABC News: Michael Clements)
One of the old ferries will then resume a limited service for the next three to four days while the new ferry undergoes testing and staff training is carried out.
The new and old ferry will then continue to run together until the second of the new ferries is delivered.
Freight backlog
Agriculture Kangaroo Island chair Peter Cooper said the shutdown and changeover would be disruptive to the island's farmers but "had to happen at some time".
Producers are currently moving large volumes of lambs, grain and other crops to the mainland for sale.
Mr Cooper said discussions with Sealink had taken place and they had agreed to "additional freight runs" to clear any backlog after next week's shutdown.
Michael Pengilly has expressed frustration with the continued delays to the new ferry service. (ABC News)
Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said the ferry was a lifeline for islanders and it was peak livestock season for farmers.
"If they end up only having one boat running for a while, I'd like to see it running 24 hours a day if necessary," he said.
The first of the two new ferries, Wanggami, arrived in Port Adelaide on April 6. (ABC News: Bobby Macumber)
SA Transport Minister Joe Szakacs said Sealink had now failed to reach a number of deadlines and the company had "severely let down" islanders and the government.
He called on the company to "do better" and said it had agreed to immediately implement vehicle fare reductions for Kangaroo Islanders that had been promised once both ferries were in place.
The matter between Sealink SA Ferry Services SA and Sea Transport SA Pty Ltd is due to return to the Federal Court on November 13.