www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7LmfOLfdP0 Australian-built vessel 'Princess of Tasmania' which revolutionised passenger tourist travel across Bass Strait from Melbourne to Devonport when introduced in 1959. Its roll-on roll off facility, where vehicles could be driven directly onto the vessel via a rear door, was an enormous improvement over the former Bass Strait service offered by the steam ship 'Taroona', which necessitated vehicles being loaded by means of cranes.

It was the popularity of the 'Princess of Tasmania' service that brought about the term 'sea road' by which vehicles could virtually travel between Victoria and Tasmania by road. The construction and introduction of the vessel was instigated through the increasing number of tourists wishing to travel to Tasmania, many of whom wanted to tour independently in their own cars. When this vessel was introduced it was the longest drive-on drive-off service in the world, covering a distance of 230 nautical miles, and helped to make Tasmania a popular tourist destination. When launched in 1958, the 'Princes of Tasmania' was the world's largest ferry and its roll-on roll-off feature was copied internationally.