A cargo ship has halted its journey to the capital due to reports of congestion at the port. The local shipping agent for Capitaine Tasman confirmed that the vessel would not be docking in Suva because there was insufficient berthing space.
Late last night, the Ports Authority reported that the ship arrived a day late. Fiji Ports Terminal operations manager Shone Pereira explained that there was no berth available on September 21, as the vessel’s late arrival coincided with other ships occupying the North and South berths.
This setback, which is not the first of its kind in recent months, has frustrated exporters like Performance Flotation Development. The company noted that all incoming goods would be offloaded at Lautoka port and then transferred to another ship, Capitaine Magellan, for delivery to Suva.
Performance Flotation Development’s managing director, Mike Towler, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation at the wharf, stating, “This is the sort of situation we must endure with Fiji Ports. It’s a complete joke.” His company is recognized as the largest manufacturer of life jackets in the Southern Hemisphere.
Shipping Services Fiji Limited, the local agent, explained that Capitaine Tasman omitted Suva from its voyage due to a lack of berthing space, port congestion, and slow vessel operations. Consequently, all cargo will be discharged in Lautoka before being transferred to Capitaine Magellan for transport to Suva.