The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced that it has accepted an undertaking from SeaLink Travel Group as part of its acquisition of Transit Systems Ferries Group.

While SeaLink’s acquisition of Transit Systems Ferries Group does not raise competition issues, the undertaking provided by SeaLink is necessary to ensure that the obligations imposed on Transit System Ferries in 2011 when it acquired Stradbroke Ferries are transferred to the new owner, SeaLink.

On 15 September 2015 SeaLink Travel Group entered into an agreement to acquire Transit Systems Ferries Group, which includes the vehicle ferry service that operates on the Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island route.

“The SeaLink undertaking will continue to assist potential new entrants by ensuring that there is access to suitable landing sites on the Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island route,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“When a business that has obligations under a section 87B undertaking is being sold, the ACCC will be vigilant in order to ensure that those obligations continue to be met post-acquisition.”

SeaLink Travel Group is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.  Its operations are in marine tourism and transport. SeaLink runs ferry services located in Kangaroo Island, Murray River, Sydney, Townsville and Darwin.

Transit Systems Ferries Group operates vessels in Queensland at North Stradbroke Island, Gladstone, and Southern Moreton Bay Islands. It operates passenger and vehicle ferry services to Curtis Island, Moreton Bay Islands and holds a contract with the Queensland State Government to own and operate the Moggill Ferry on the Brisbane River.

Sealink Travel Group has no ferry operations in competition with Transit Systems Ferry Group.