Salute to Captain Aneil

I read with great interest and fondness the article on Captain Aneil Kumar (FS 6/1, Business liftout Page B8), a true pioneer of leisure cruise industry and ferry boat tourism in Fiji.

I witnessed Captain Aneil's rise through the ranks to where he is today not only at his company South Sea Cruises for more than 43 years and how he etched a name in the industry.

Denarau Island, initially had just the one hotel, The Regent of Fiji, and the marina was ironically the beachfront and loading was via long boats. That's the start of ferry operations to the Mamanucas, and we were both intimately involved.

His commitment to providing safety to all passengers and vessels and sophisticated knowledge of the marine environment was indeed a beacon and, ensured the traveling public was in safe hands.

I had great pleasure of working with Captain Aneil at South Sea Cruises at Pacific Harbour and Denarau Island. We had both seen the growth of tourism in the Islands since early 1970s and experienced developments in the marine industry as it grew.

From sailing ships such as the Seaspray, of television fame, to the former World War II relic, the Fairmile Stardust 1 and 2 we were under his command. Through “rough and calm seas” he steered nothing but excellence. As operations manager at the then Pettit family-operated South Sea Cruises I relied on his expertise and passion for the seas.

I wish Captain Aneil and his family well and hope he continues the fine and high standards he has brought to the industry.