The Talofa hits the water
ON July 11 1984, The Fiji Times ran an article on how the Fijian Government was considering making Fiji the home of ship repairs and shipbuilding in the South Pacific.
“This will undoubtedly mean the expansion of the shipyard and slipway facilities which, in the longer term, will not bring revenue to the country, but provide greater and much-needed employment opportunities,” the Acting Prime Minister at the time, Ratu David Toganivalu, said.
Ratu David made the comment during the launch of the $250,000 landing barge, Talofa, at the Government Shipyard at Walu Bay in Suva.
He said the Government would consider if the benefits for the country would justify the expenditure.
The Talofa, a 30-metre barge, was built at the Government Shipyard in four months and was owned by the Lautoka-based Sunrise Barge Services.
She was to be based in Lautoka and serve ports such as Vatia and Ellington wharves, Viti Levu Bay, Bua, Labasa and Malau.
Sunrise Barge Services Ltd managing director Fred Caine said the Talofa would also service the Mamanuca Group when required and could make trips from Lautoka to Rotuma every three months.
He said plans were on the drawing board for a second barge to serve the coastline of Vanua Levu and Taveuni.
Mr Caine’s partner at Sunrise Barge Services Ltd was his brother-in-law, Mr Choy, who had been a shopkeeper in Sigatoka for 65 years.
The Talofa was the largest and first privatelyowned landing barge to be built at the Government Shipyard.
Meanwhile, Mr Caine stated that port charges and storage rates for products in transit and awaiting onward cartage were very high.
He said local shipowners who invested in Fiji should be given some wharf concessions.
He added the storage of products from isolated areas should also receive a subsidy to allow a more equitable competition against producers close to the markets.
Mr Caine also suggested that skills of marine shipyard workers should be more universally used if the shipyard were to be established as a statutory body for the building of local and overseas vessels.
Mr Caine said more locals could be encouraged to build here rather than commission vessels overseas.
“And I am told that many of our neighbours are ready to place their orders in Fiji rather than fulfil their marine requirements in Taiwan or Japan.”
Mr Caine also claimed that several ships had run aground that year because of faulty beacons.
He said Marine Department officials had little reason to criticise local skippers for ships running aground and suggested that beacons be upgraded.