Christmas special

Ticketholders go into the draw to win $1000 cash

GOUNDAR Shipping Ltd (GSL) has doubled-up on its inter-island trip during this festive season. This was confirmed by GSL managing director George Goundar. The GSL vessels are now doubling-up on trips and are also making special trips to certain parts of the country for its customers. Trips that have doubled-up this month include trips to Lau, Koro, Vanua Levu, other parts of Lomaiviti and Kadavu. “As we near Christmas season we have made special trips to Gau, Koro, Cicia and Vanuabalavu,” he said. “We offer our usual rates but there is a special promotion being offered to customers who will board with us. “Passengers who pay their tickets go into the draw to win $1000 cash and the draw will be done on December 22, just a few days before Christmas. “This is something that our customers can look forward to this festive season.” He said all their eight trips for Ellington, Natovi, Suva, Savusavu, Taveuni, Koro, Gau and Yasayasa Moala and Lau would be part of the draw. “The boats that will be servicing are Lomaiviti Princess (LP) 7, LP 1, LP 8, LP 9 and LP 6,” he said. “Our passengers’ numbers have increased by 80 per cent because of the movement of people going for the holidays. “Our highest figures would be from the North and Kadavu trips which has increased tenfold in the last two weeks.” He said there has been some special request from customers trying to get GSL to provide service to the upper Lau area like Fulaga and Oneata. “It’s a bit risky to provide the service there right now but we will definitely look into it next year,” he said. “We need to plan ahead in order to provide such service to those places and we are listening to what our customers are saying in terms of the need to provide service there. “We are all about providing for our customers and we will always facilitate their needs.” He said they had some slight issues in the past week in Natovi that was addressed and they were trying to get captains to co-operate the movement of their ships. “We need masters to work together because it’s the passenger’s needs that have to be met at the end of the day. “Safety of passengers is important, particularly getting them to their destinations without any delay. “We have small hiccups but it’s manageable and I hope masters have respect for one another when operating their vessels.”