Bligh Water, Goundar and Venu Shipping will continue services

Patterson Brothers Shipping Limited has confirmed that they have cancelled services, possibly until Thursday.

Director Trevor Patterson said: “We have had to cancel the sailing scheduled…due to adverse weather conditions – strong westerly winds and 2.0m seas and swells impacting into Nabouwalu jetty.

“Due to these conditions, the ships will not be able to berth safely and conduct loading and unloading of passengers and vehicles safely at Nabouwalu.”

“Since this condition presents a risk to passengers, cargo and the ship. The management and ship masters have jointly decided to cancel sailings until prevailing weather or sea conditions are favourable,” Mr Patterson said.

“We expect conditions to improve by Thursday 7th January when services could resume. “However, if conditions improve by late this evening or early tomorrow morning, services could resume as early as Wednesday and we are closely monitoring the situation and will advise through radio announcement when we consider it safe to perform the trip.”

However, other shipping services such as Bligh Water Shipping Limited and the Goundar Shipping Limited both confirmed that they will continue with their services. They operate to Savusavu in Vanua Levu, and not Nabouwalu.

These was after reports of over a hundred ship passengers found stranded and are currently being accommodated at Nabua Primary School. They have been there since last Saturday. There were 155 of them who travelled from Bua and Macuata to attend a church conference in Nadi.

Bligh Water Shipping Suva office manager Jamal Khan said: “We still continue with our services as normal since we operate from Natovi Jetty to Savusavu and we have no problem with the weather at the moment.”

The Goundar Shipping Limited chief executive officer George Goundar has also confirmed the continuation of their services.

The Venu Shipping Limited has also confirmed that they will resume services on Tuesday with their vessel the Sinu-I-Wasa which provides weekly services from Suva to Kadavu.

Mr Naidu has confirmed that they have made contact with their passengers on the Island by telephone. Edited by Jonathan Bryce

Feedback:  luisa.qiolevu@fijisun.com.fj