Travellers to the outer islands in the Eastern and Northern divisions can expect an added boost to shipping services with two new vessels expected into the country before the end of this month.

Goundar Shipping Limited (GSL) currently owning seven inter-island vessels is expecting its ninth today while Interlink Shipping Line Limited is expecting its third vessel before the end of this month.

While local shipping mogul George Goundar has set aside about $14 million to purchase five new passenger vessels this year of which two are already here, ISLL operations manager Manoj Kumar while refusing to disclose the cost of their new vessel confirmed that the captain to bring the new vessel in had flown out last week to bring in the new vessel.

“I will be buying five new vessels this year, it is costing me approximately $14m,” Mr Goundar said.

Mr Goundar in an earlier interview mentioned that the new vessel that will be brought in this week will be named Lomaiviti Princess VIII.

GSL’s first vessel this year Lomaiviti Princess VI arrived into Suva from Korea on April 15.

Meanwhile ISLL operates MV Westerland and MV Queen of Melbourne serving the Natovi to Nabouwalu route.

“The new vessel captain will fly out to bring the vessel in,” Mr Kumar said.

“We have taken the depth and dimensions of the Natovi Jetty and have bought the new vessel accordingly,” he said.

“Our vessels are compliant meaning that they can dock at the ports of call without any fuss, our route is Natovi to Nabouwalu and return.

“We have a goods carrying business of which we have a fleet of heavy vehicles to service northerners at reasonable cost.

“We know the expectations of commercial, business and ordinary Fijians and we are going to provide the vessel that sees to all these.”