Wanggami departs Batam bound for Australia

As we move closer to the commencement of the new Kangaroo Island Ferry Service, we are thrilled to announce that Wanggami, the first of our two new larger vessels, has departed the shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Now en route to Australia, the vessel will travel approximately 5,200 nautical miles, sailing south-east through Indonesian waters before continuing down the Queensland coast.

Wanggami’s departure is a significant milestone in the delivery of the new Kangaroo Island Ferry Service. Upon service commencement, the new vessels will provide increased capacity and flexibility, more daily departures, an improved customer experience and accessibility, and a more safe and reliable service.

“Wanggami’s departure from Batam is a culmination of many years of planning, design and construction - such an important milestone for the new Kangaroo Island Ferry Service,” said Tracy Croft, General Manager, SeaLink South Australia. “We know how much this service matters to Kangaroo Island residents, freight operators, local businesses and visitors travelling to and from the island. With the first vessel now on her way, our focus remains on the work required to deliver a reliable and improved ferry service for the community and for the future.”

As Wanggami begins her journey, we are excited to share a look inside the vessel, offering a preview of the improved onboard experience customers can expect when Wanggami and Ruwi enter service. The images highlight the quality of the new vessels and the improvements being delivered to support the Kangaroo Island ferry service for years to come.

• Passenger lounge features a mix of seating options, including booth-style lounges and traditional forward-facing seats. 

• Large-format windows offering breathtaking views.  

• Larger, centrally located café for easier access to refreshments. 

• Accessible toilet facilities available on every level.  

• Lift connecting all three levels - vehicle deck, main passenger lounge and sundeck - providing improved accessibility and easier movement throughout the vessel. 

• A spacious sundeck with more outdoor seating.  

• Sundeck lounge with booth-style seating and large-format windows.  

• Dedicated, secure, air-conditioned pet lounge with direct access from the vehicle deck. 

In addition to the improved customer experience, the new vessels’ size and design provide enhanced operational capability. At 60 metres in length and 20 metres wide (approximately 10m longer and 2m wider than the current vessels), Wanggami and Ruwi are significantly larger than the existing ferries increasing capacity for vehicles. Identical in their design, the new vessels can carry more vehicles per departure with eight vehicle lanes (two more than the current vessels) including two central lanes specifically designed to accommodate freight carriers and high vehicles as required. The drive-through design allows vehicles to drive on and off in the same direction, making the experience safer, faster and more convenient for all passengers.

Wanggami will sail first into Cairns, Queensland and then continue her journey through to Port Adelaide. Following completion of all mandatory inspections, regulatory checks and approvals, there will be formal handover of the vessel to SeaLink in Port Adelaide. As with all vessel deliveries of this scale, the schedule remains subject to weather and operational factors.

We will provide further updates, including specific dates for vessel arrivals and the service shutdown, when the dates are confirmed.

If you have any questions, please email us on [email protected].