With the detainment of all Goundar Shipping Limited vessels, some villagers have come out to voice their opinion on its impact that it will have on their businesses.

Jolame Savoka, a farmer and businessman from Nalotu, Kadavu, said farmers in his village were still surprised at the sudden detainment without any prior notice given to them.

“We heard about the news over the radio and we have no choice but to adjust ourselves to whatever vessel is being offered and work our schedule trips from it,” Mr Savoka said.

“We cannot do much but to accept the decision made by Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji,” he said.

“I for one receive the frozen goods for my business weekly and I right now I know I will be losing money from unexpected delays and missed usual trips if the vessel is strict on the number of passengers allowed because of its size.”

Mr Savoka travels by fiber boat for about 30 minutes from Nalotu to Vunisea to pick up his business goods . He says if he missed a week’s trip, worry sets in as to when the next vessel will come in for there has been no notice given to them on its travel schedule.

“We have been so dependent on the Lomaiviti Princess vessels the past number of years and it will take some time to adjust to the Queen of Melbourne vessel and their schedules.”

“But we know people’s lives are at risk in this situation and so we will wait and see the best way we can go about working together with whichever vessel will be assigned to our route.”

Meanwhile Interlink Shipping Line Limited Queen of Melbourne vessel has stepped in to take up Lomaiviti Princess trips to Kadavu.

Yesterday Queen of Melbourne with a capacity of 350 was booked to capacity as travellers book in advance for a seat on the vessel.

According to ISLL officer Ashish Kumar, Queen of Melbourne left yesterday for Kadavu and will return today.

It will depart again for Kadavu on Friday.

“We have two trips for Kadavu this week and await MSAF’s decision on Goundar for finalisation of next week’s trip,” Mr Kumar said.

“Goundar Shipping might resume next week I don’t know, we are going week by week.”

Goundar Shipping Limited now has a fleet of eight vessels of which two regularly service the Kadavu route.

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