In 1987, Fiji marked a milestone in regional trade and cooperation when it received Cenpac II, a 9,000-tonne freighter donated to the Fiji Government by Nauru. A Fiji Times report from December of that year described how the ship would help open trading links with Southeast Asian nations as part of Fiji’s broader drive to strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties in the region.
The vessel, valued at more than $5 million, was handed over to then-Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara by Nauru’s acting President, Buraro Detudamo, in a ceremony at Suva Wharf. At the ceremony, a Fiji flag was hoisted after the Nauru flag was lowered, symbolizing Fiji’s new ownership of its first deep-ocean trading vessel. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara said the ship would be refitted to carry essential imports such as sugar and rice and would be chartered to a private shipping company in a joint venture with the Government.
Cenpac II was described as Fiji’s first government-owned deep-ocean trading vessel, with a capacity of about 7,000 tonnes of cargo. Its planned trade routes targeted exports and imports including sugar, rice, fertilisers and other goods from Southeast Asia. The ship also served as Fiji’s flagship at foreign ports, helping to project the country’s presence in international waters. The ceremony was attended by officials from the Fiji Sugar Corporation and related entities, including the Fiji Sugar Marketing Company, Rewa Rice Limited and Visama Rice Limited. The 17-year-old ship, built in Japan, had previously been owned by two international shipping companies before its acquisition by the Nauru Shipping Line, and it had undergone several refits with certification as an ocean-going vessel until 1991.
Ratu Sir Kamisese acknowledged the Government of Nauru for the gift, noting, “Today we pay tribute to the government and people of Nauru who through their generosity have made the people of Fiji proud owners of our first deep ocean trading vessel.” He added that such generosity among Pacific peoples reflects a cherished virtue embedded in their traditions and culture, even as he acknowledged that it sometimes led to misunderstandings abroad. He also expressed high regard for Nauru’s President, Hammer de Robert, who could not attend the handover.
The plan was for Cenpac II to be crewed by Fijians, with training provided for locals to take over as captain, chief engineer and officers. Captain Sateesh Saphre led the vessel in the hands-on tours for Ratu Sir Kamisese and invited guests, including Brigadier Sitiveni Rabuka. Burns Philp Company was named as the vessel’s agents.
Broader context and reflections
Cenpac II’s donation highlighted Fiji’s proactive approach to building regional trade networks and maritime capability through collaboration with neighboring Pacific nations. The story sits within a longer arc of Fiji’s maritime diplomacy and regional partnership, a thread that continues in contemporary times through ongoing Pacific partnerships and diplomacy with Nauru and other allies.
In the years since, Fiji has continued to deepen its maritime and security partnerships, including recent efforts to strengthen naval capabilities and regional security through international cooperation. For example, Fiji’s engagement with allies has included updates to its maritime fleet and diplomatic exchanges that emphasize shared stability and development in the Pacific. The ongoing emphasis on diaspora engagement and regional cooperation—evident in Fiji’s leadership and foreign affairs initiatives—underscores a lasting commitment to collaborative solutions for the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific island nations.
Summary
The Cenpac II gift from Nauru in 1987 represented Fiji’s first government-owned deep-ocean trading vessel and a tangible milestone in regional cooperation, trading expansion, and maritime capability. The ship was to be refitted for agricultural imports, crewed by Fijians with local leadership opportunities, and used to foster closer ties with Southeast Asia and other partners, illustrating a longstanding pattern of-Pacific island solidarity and shared development goals.
Additional value and potential angles
– Explore how Cenpac II fit into Fiji’s broader maritime strategy in the late 1980s, including the role of private-public partnerships in shipping.
– Compare and contrast with later maritime partnerships in the region, such as cross-border naval and security collaborations and donor-supported vessel upgrades.
– Highlight how regional goodwill and connectivity among Pacific nations continue to shape Fiji’s foreign policy and economic networks today.
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