A cargo ship has had to halt its journey to the capital due to reported congestion at the docks. The local shipping agent for the Capitaine Tasman confirmed that the vessel will not be able to dock in Suva because of a lack of available berthing space.
According to the Ports Authority, the Capitaine Tasman arrived a day late. Fiji Ports Terminal Operations Manager Shone Pereira explained, “There was no berth available on September 21 since the vessel arrived late and other ships were occupying the North and South berths.”
This postponement is not an isolated incident for export operators like Performance Flotation Development, who often respond with frustration to such circumstances. The Nabua-based textile manufacturer stated that all incoming goods will be offloaded at Lautoka port and then transferred onto another vessel, the Capitaine Magellan, for delivery to Suva.
Performance Flotation Development’s Managing Director, Mike Towler, expressed his displeasure regarding the situation at the wharf, describing it as “the sort of situation we must endure with Fiji Ports” and adding that it felt like a “joke.” His company is the largest manufacturer of life jackets in the Southern Hemisphere.
Shipping Services Fiji Limited, the local agent, noted that the Capitaine Tasman had skipped Suva due to the unavailability of berthing spaces, yard congestion, and slow vessel operations. All incoming cargo will now be discharged in Lautoka and transferred to the Capitaine Magellan for transport to Suva.