As part of its commitment towards improving the lives of those living in maritime communities, Government will acquire three new shipping vessels to service these communities.
The absence of shipping vessels for some maritime communities has often delayed the provision of basic services and resources to these communities - who depend largely on this form of transportation.
The Divisional Commissioner Eastern Lieutenant Colonel Netani Rika said 2 ships will be for general maritime services while the third ship is solely for the Eastern Division.
“A team from the Ministry of Transport and Government Shipping Services led by the Permanent Secretary for Works and Transport Commander Francis Kean were in Asia and have identified the 2 ships,” Lieutenant-Colonel Rika said.
“He said the 2 ships could arrive in Fiji in the first or second quarter of this year while the third ship could be in the country by the fourth quarter.
Commissioner Rika said the third ship which is for the Eastern Division will be a newly built one with the cost of about $7 m and is going to be built in either Indonesia or Malaysia.
“The Eastern Division ship should be available in the fourth quarter of this year,” Lieutenant-Colonel Rika said.
He said that with these government vessels he is optimistic that it is going to ease the decade old problem of lack of shipping services to maritime provinces in Fiji.
-ENDS-