A memorandum of understanding will be agreed in the near future and the state expects market testing to take place before operations begin.
Tasmania has been without an international service since 2011, when Agility Shipping cut its Bell Bay route, ABC reported.
Subsidies of AUD 33m ($28m) have been set aside to support the services.
Swire Shipping already operates a once-a-month service transporting aluminium ingots from Bell Bay.
Infrastructure
