SeaLink South Australia General Manager Tracy Croft said the arrival of Wanggami
marked an important step forward for the project and for the future of ferry services to Kangaroo Island.
“Welcoming Wanggami
to South Australia has been a significant milestone for the SeaLink team, the Kangaroo Island community and everyone who relies on this essential service,” Ms Croft said.
“The new Kangaroo Island Ferry Service represents the largest investment in the service’s history and is expected to deliver significant improvements in capacity, reliability and customer experience.”
“Our priority remains delivering a safe, reliable and well-planned transition that provides long-term benefits for residents, freight operators, businesses and visitors travelling to and from Kangaroo Island.”
SeaLink anticipates the new Kangaroo Island Ferry Service will commence on or before 23 September 2026.
As part of the transition, a temporary three-day shutdown of ferry services will be required in August or September 2026 to complete critical shoreside infrastructure works, including installation of the new vehicle ramps at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw for the new vessels.
The timing of these works is dependent on weather conditions and the final delivery schedule for Ruwi. SeaLink said every effort would be made to minimise disruption and avoid peak travel periods where possible.
Ms Croft said following the 3-day shutdown period, services will resume using Sealion 2000
on a reduced schedule for 3-4 days while final on-water testing, crew familiarisation and operational readiness activities for the new vessels are performed before full-service commencement.
Ms Croft said collaboration with Government, the community and key stakeholders remained critical to ensuring a successful transition.
“We thank the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Joe Szakacs, together with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, for their collaboration and commitment to achieving the best outcome for the Kangaroo Island community,” she said.
“There is a significant amount of work occurring behind the scenes across vessel commissioning, marine safety, crew readiness and shoreside infrastructure to ensure the service transition is both smooth and successful for the long term.”
SeaLink also confirmed previously announced Kangaroo Island resident savings will continue, including the ‘Resident Saver Fares’ for vehicles and the reduced resident passenger fares. The current freight pricing arrangements will continue until the new service commences.
Further updates, including confirmed dates for Ruwi’s arrival and the temporary shutdown period, would be provided as soon as they are finalised.
For more information visit: SeaLink Kangaroo Island Ferry Service Updates
