Cape York Weekly FREE – #120 | Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Editor: Matt Nicholls 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
CEO QUASHES COMPANY RUMOUR
Vessel not for sale: Sea Swift
INSIDE TODAY
NEW BUSINESS MAKING WAVES Page 3
By MATT NICHOLLS
THE chief executive officer of Sea Swift says the company has no plans to sell its yet-to-be-delivered vessel, quashing a nasty rumour doing the rounds. Dwayne Freeman said that he had heard many false stories, but was firm in his response that the Newcastle Bay would be servicing the Cape and Torres Strait before the next wet season. “I can categorically say that we are taking possession of this vessel,” he said in an interview with Cape York Weekly on Friday. “We’re not selling it or disposing of it in any way.” Mr Freeman said delays on the ship’s construction had frustrated Sea Swift, but global staff shortages were having an impact. “We’ve been waiting long periods of time for specific components for that vessel and other things, which has meant that it has been delayed, but (Newcastle Bay) will be here this year and we will get it into service,” he said. “At the right point in time, once we’ve tested the vessel and gotten it into service, we will also reintroduce the passenger services.” The vessel is still being fitted out in Indonesia, the CEO said. “It’s going through the final sort of stages of commissioning and
“For me, getting this vessel in service is one of the critical pieces for Sea Swift and there’s no way in the world I would sell it or not take delivery of it, because it’s a critical element in our business.” CEO Dwayne Freeman
TTNQ WANTS A LONGER SEASON Page 4 AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS Pages 8 & 9 TRUCK DRIVER ADMITS FAULT Page 5
Sea Swift CEO Dwayne Freeman says there’s no truth to rumours that the company is selling the Newcastle Bay.
testing. That will take place between now and mid-year and then it’ll make its way to us,” Mr Freeman said. “I’m certainly hopeful the vessel will be in place by Q3 of the calendar year this year. “But with the sort of distances you’re dealing with and some
of the issues you’ve got in dealing with labour supply and other things, it’s not uncommon for these things to either come forward or go back by a few months at a time. “But certainly (we’ll have it) this calendar year, and I’m hopeful that we’ll have this thing in place by the third quarter of the year.”
While Mr Freeman said he did not appreciate the rumours, he said he understood the great amount of interest in the new vessel, which was originally meant to join the fleet in 2021. “Everyone is interested in it and wants to talk about it,” he said. Continued – Page 2
BRUSH UP ON CPR: AMBOS Page 7
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