Grace Shipping from Taveuni is ready for any competition from any shipping company that intends to serve the Taveuni to Natuvu in Vanua Levu route.

Captain Soniya Thakur, who is managing director of the company and also a sea captain, said – “You talking about competition … for Taveuni Princess there is no competition at all we have our own timber boat and we only concentrate on passengers as usual.

“For the last 55 years we have been operating so many roll on came in but no effect on us.”

She said the company’s new boat the “Taveuni Princess” they would be installing its new engine which would take a week and it would be in operation soon after that.

She said from the information the company had gathered, the Goundar Shipping Company barge the “Lomaiviti Princess IV would be serving the same route this month.

“We had few years back 3 different times the roll on came … Barge was in But Grace Shipping is still alive.”

Meanwhile, George Goundar, the managing director of Goundar Shipping confirmed to the Fiji Sun that the Lomaiviti Princess IV would be serving the Taveuni – Natuvu route this month.

He said the vessel would also be transporting vehicles and would make business easier for business people in Taveuni doing business in Savusavu and Labasa.

“They can take their vehicles with them,” he said.

The Lomaiviti Princess IV he said would be serving the route daily.

There is also a new company owned by two captains that has confirmed to the Fiji Sun it will also be operating the same route.