Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries Limited Slipway, in Walu Bay, Suva is above cus­tomers’ expectations service and techni­cal capacity makes it the most popular and preferred slipway in the Pacific says FSHIL works manager Rajnesh Kumar.

“As per our customers feedback, the advan­tage that we got over others is our customer service, technical skill set, quality manage­ment and our reporting system,” Mr Kumar said.

The FSHIL slipway receives a total of 10-12 foreign vessels for major projects per year.

All works performed at FSHIL is in compli­ance to International Association of Classifi­cation Societies (IACS).

Meanwhile, ro-ro passenger vessel Queen of Melbourne is in its final stages of main­tenance work at the FSHIL slipway in Walu Bay, Suva.

Mr Kumar said Queen of Melbourne was in the slipway from January 30 to February 7 undergoing works, a request from the ves­sel owner in compliance with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) report.

“There were no major deficiencies, we had worked according to customer’s require­ment and the survey report provided by the MSAF,” he said.

“The entire vessel was water blasted using ultra high-pressure water blaster, the below water and above water line area.

“Works on the ships included buffing of all rough areas, application of primer, anti-cor­rosive and anti-fouling coating, using airless spray-painting system.

“Ultrasonic thickness test was also carried out for the entire vessel and a report was pro­vided and there were no major defects identi­fied when it was on slipway.

“Lastly, bearing clearances for tail shaft and ruder was carried out, the reading was in an acceptable range.”

He said the vessel is still in the slipway’s bathing area and the vessel owner is doing some works to fine tune the finishing works inside the vessel.

The vessel has a sitting capacity of 400 pas­sengers and measures 50 meters in length.