Arrival signifies optimism and resurgence of industry
IT IS significant and humbling to have a Maersk ship named after a place, a vanua of Fiji, says Bernard Hong Tiy, managing director of Maersk agent, Shipping Services (Fiji) Pte Ltd.
Mr Hong Tiy made the statement after the arrival of the 2546 container capacity vessel, the MV Maersk Nadi as part of her maiden call into the Port of Suva on Thursday morning.
In a statement, the company said the arrival of a Maersk container ship named after the jet-set town and vanua of Nadi, hoped to signify optimism in the resurgence of the tourism industry and the economy as the mass COVID-19 vaccination program gathered momentum.
“We are proud to have a Maersk ship named after the gateway to Fiji - and for Maersk, it is an acknowledgement of the significance of the Fijian economy. Shipping Services is the only fully locally owned container line agency in Fiji today, and to have a Maersk ship named after a place in Fiji is a milestone achievement for us,” said Mr Hong Tiy.
He said the ship had the blessings of the people of the vanua of Nadi.
“When we received the confirmation that the vessel was to be named the Maersk Nadi, we set about to seek the blessing of the Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniani Navuniuci, and in a traditional ceremony, he graciously bestowed them.
“Nadi is well known internationally and is the gateway to Fiji. It is the base into which hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive and launch their travels around our beautiful country. From Denarau, to the Coral Coast, Ra, the Mamanuca Islands and the Yasawa Group to Vanua
Levu, Taveuni and the Lomaiviti Group - Nadi is the epicentre of Fiji’s biggest revenue earner tourism, and traditionally is a much respected and forward thinking vanua.”
The Maersk Nadi is one of two 2500 container capacity vessels now servicing the ports of Suva and Lautoka, as part of Maersk’s
Sirius Star Service.
The second vessel, the MV Seaspan Hannover called last week and both vessels will now feature as regular callers at Fiji ports.