The establishment of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) office will boost the confidence of the private sector and investors to do more business in Taveuni.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this when opening the new MSAF office in Taveuni.

“The new MSAF office is part of the decentralisation efforts of my Government,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Through this initiative services that previously were only available in the major centres can now be accessed in rural and maritime areas, like Taveuni.

“Every Fijian, at some point in their life, will have used the sea and many use it on a daily basis.

“It is, therefore, very important to ensure that our people, including our children, are safe and comfortable when travelling out at sea.”

Mr Bainimarama said there were plans to open other MSAF offices in other parts of the country.

“I have been advised that this is the eleventh office of MSAF,’’ Mr Bainimarama said.

“There are other plans to open new MSAF offices in Labasa, Kadavu and Rotuma.

“With these new offices, MSAF’s outreach and presence throughout Fiji is expanded and I am confident that maritime safety awareness and compliance will greatly improve.”

He urged members of the public to follow the safety requirements promoted by MSAF.

Taveuni is regarded as a bustling trading  island in the Maritime Zone and is noted for its output in yaqona, dalo, other agricultural products and to some extent tourism.

The designated port of call on Taveuni is Nalele Jetty, close to Waiyevo, the main government administration centre.

It is now the preferred arrival point from Natuvu, the corresponding jetty on the Vanua Levu main land on the Cakaudrove coast.

The journey across by ferry is less than an hour, and is measured by the length of a typical movie offered on board  a roll-on-roll-off vessel.

The movie would be still in progress when the vessels arrives at Waiyevo from Natuvu.

Ports or jetties on the Taveuni coastline used to a lesser degree these days are Lovonivonu, also known as Korea to locals.

It was made popular by a Korean company which was into a quarry business; and Salialevu which traders used for shipping cattle from the Vuna area.

Government vessels in service during that era were Duiyabaki for livestock shipment; Aisokula and Komaiwai for general trading and passenger transfers.

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa

Feedback:  wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj