By RACHNA LAL
Goundar Shipping, owner of Lomaiviti Princess, has purhcased another vessel – this time from Tahiti.
Goundar Shipping managing director, George Goundar, who is currently in Tahiti, confirmed this to the Fiji Sun.
The vessel which has 300-passenger capacity with 700 tonnes of deck cargo capacity, has meant a $1.5 million investment for Goundar Shipping.
Mr Goundar said the vessel currently named Pupaa Pae II, will be leaving Tahiti on Wednesday and will be in Fiji by July 4 or 5.
The vessel will be renamed in Fiji and Mr Goundar said all the paperwork will be conducted here today for their new vessel.
Routes for new vessel
Mr Goundar is looking into using the vessel for Kadavu, Lau and Koro mostly and would also look into Rotuma as a possibility..
“The vessel is smaller than the Lomaiviti Princess and is ideal for where there are jetties,” he said.
“This vessel also has dual purpose for vehicles and cargo.”
Canadian vessel on hold
The news of this Tahitian vessel to some may come as a surprise as all the while Mr Goundar had mentioned about buying a vessel from Canada.
But Mr Goundar said the purchase has not been called off – although delayed a bit from the seller’s end.
“The company wanted to use it for another year but we will hopefully get the vessel by this November or January next year,” he said.
Mr Goundar said the vessel being looked at in Canada will be bigger than the Lomaiviti Princess.
What will Lomaiviti Princess do?
Mr Goundar said for Lomaiviti Princess, which has been
carrying the burden ob a number of routes, it will now concentrate only on Savusavu and Taveuni.
Goundar Shipping managing director, George Goundar.