A cargo ship has halted its journey to the capital due to reports of port congestion. The local shipping agent for Capitaine Tasman recently announced that the vessel will not be docking in Suva due to insufficient berthing space.
Late last night, the Ports Authority reported that the ship arrived a day late. Fiji Ports Terminal manager, Shone Pereira, explained, “There was no berth available on 21st September due to the late arrival of the vessel and other ships occupying the North and South berths.”
For export businesses like Performance Flotation Development, this delay is not a new issue and is often met with frustration. The textile manufacturer stated that all inbound goods will be offloaded at Lautoka port and transferred to another ship, Capitaine Magellan, to be delivered to Suva.
Mike Towler, managing director of Performance Flotation Development, expressed his discontent with the situation at the wharf, stating, “This is the sort of situation we must endure with Fiji Ports. It’s a joke.” His company is recognized as the largest manufacturer of life jackets in the Southern Hemisphere.
Shipping Services Fiji Limited indicated that Capitaine Tasman bypassed Suva due to the lack of berthing space, yard congestion, and slow operational productivity. They confirmed that all inbound cargo will be offloaded in Lautoka and then sent to Suva on Capitaine Magellan.