Major union calls on the government for a third Bass Strait ferry to boost tourism

The union is calling on the federal and state governments to fund the project, with the primary focus of the vessel being transportation of freight, cars and caravans to and from the Apple Isle.

AMWU state secretary John Short said the ferry was needed to meet tourism demands and create Tasmanian jobs.

"At the moment, I talk to so many people from the mainland who'd love to come across but the price to bring their caravan is just exorbitant," Mr Short said.

"With greater capacity and greater capability through a third vessel, we can get the prices down and more people across."

He said the high prices of caravan transport was cutting off tourism benefits that would extend to regional and remote areas.

"There's very little push to have tourists coming across in caravans and motorhomes, who will spend more time here and in regional areas.

"This is so the whole state benefits."

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Previously both TT- Line and Austal, the WA-based ship building company, have determined that a catamaran vessel would be unsuitable for making the journey across the Strait.

However, Mr Short said this ferry wouldn't compare to previous Incat vessels.

"I know it has a bit of a checkered past with the devil cat.

"But this is a boat five times bigger than that (in capacity)," he said.

"It'll be about 180 metres long, and wider too. It will handle the rougher seas much better than previous vessels.

"Incat have got world-renowned ships, working across the Mediterranean, South America - what we're asking for is for the state and federal government to have confidence in them the way other governments around the world do."

If Incat are successful in gaining funding, Mr Short said the company would be ready to begin construction in a matter of weeks.

"That would protect the jobs that are already there, but Incat have already made the commitment that if they got that kind of work, they would get more people on, and train more apprentices," he said.

"We need young people trained up in Tasmania, and Incat will be able to do that."