Vessel Carrying Predecessor’s Name Arrives This Week
The newly built cargo vessel named after her predecessor, MV Southern Pearl arrives at the Suva Kings Wharf this Friday.
It was announced in March last year that the old MV Southern Pearl was going to be replaced by a brand new vessel this year.
Transam Fiji Limited commercial manager Michelle Brunt confirmed the arrival of the new MV Southern Pearl on Monday.
“It is a brand new vessel and it arrives on Friday,” Ms Brunt said.
“The new vessel will carry the name of its predecessor,” she said.
“We are not able to release other details until she (new Southern Pearl) comes in Friday.”
Paci f ic Direct Line (PDL) International Pte Limited had purchased the brand new ship.
Main cargo carried by the former Southern Pearl, Ms Brunt said were building materials and food items from Asia, New Zealand and Australia hubbing over Fiji Ports and on to Wallis and Futuna, Funafuti, Tarawa and Majuro.
“Fiji also exports many products to these destinations including cement, hardware plus various manufactured goods.”
Inbound cargoes to Fiji from Wallis and Futuna, Funafuti and Tarawa she said were limited but included copra, coconut oil, personal effects but mainly empty containers as the trade was predominantly one way.
PDL is commit ted to Fiji through its investment in Transam. This includes its recent investment in Williams and Gosling, and its choice of Fiji as its major hubbing location for its services throughout the Pacific.
With seven vessels calling though Fiji on regular liner services, PDL has more than 250 ship calls per annum in Fiji, the most of any shipping line in the region.
The previous MV Southern Pearl built in 2003, had a top speed of 15 knots and capacity for up to 513 containers and 60 refrigerated containers.
The old Southern Pearl was called Capitaine Wallis until September 2011; it was initially called Pac Natuna until April 2003.
The newly built Southern Pearl visits the following ports on these dates: Wallis on Tuesday October 23, Futuna Island on Thursday October 25, Funafuti on Saturday October 27 and Tarawa on Tuesday October 30.
