Tonga’s inter-island ferry, the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa, was still in Auckland tonight, four months after being sent to New Zealand for repairs.
The ferry is expected to return to the kingdom this week.
The vessel reportedly arrived in Auckland in September 2022 and was expected to return the following month.
Kaniva News visited the vessel last week at Auckland wharf and photographed her while she was sitting on the Titan Marine Engineering Ltd slipway.
Tonga’s Ministry of Transport said the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa had left Auckland today January 31 and was expected to arrive back in Tonga on February 13.
However, Kaniva News visited the wharf this evening and found it was moored at Titan’s berth.
It is understood it was originally planned for MV ‘Otuanga’ofa’s maintenance to take one month.
Our source said when the vessel first arrived in Auckland there were problems with its paperwork. The issue forced the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa to anchor outside New Zealand’s waters to avoid paying the wharfage charges until the paper work issue was sorted out.
Kaniva News has contacted the ship’s captain, Vivili Fifita, for comment.
Critics said the delays had caused financial losses to the government’s Friendly Islands Shipping Agency because it had to pay travelling allowances and other costs for the ferry’s crew for a longer time.
The Minister of Transport has been contacted for comment.
The government has also been criticised for not looking after the crew and making sure they were protected and safe.
It has been claimed a crew member became ill shortly after the ferry arrived in Auckland. While processing his medical needs it was discovered that the crew did not have any medical insurance.
The Minister of Transport told a press conference yesterday in Tonga that when the ferry arrived in New Zealand some unforeseen mechanical and electrical issues were identified which were not addressed when the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa was being repaired in Fiji in 2018.
“The MV ‘Otuanga’ofa will return to Tonga from New Zealand about the second week of February, following mechanical services there,” the Minister said.
“The vessel should be serving Tonga again soon after having gone for maintenance and repairs.”
Ship history
The ‘Otuanga’ofa was given to Tonga by the Japanese Government in October, 2010 to replace the Princess Ashika, which sank with the loss of 74 souls.
In January 2012 the ‘Otuanga’ofa hit the MV Sitka twice at the Queen Salote wharf in Nuku’alofa while trying to dock. Damage was estimated at UAS$50,000.
In May 2014 the ferry was reported to have run aground while trying to leave the Pasivulangi harbour in Niuafo’ou.
Close inspection ferry found cracks in the vessel and it was dry docked in Fiji for maintenance.
Last year the Fiji Sun reported that the ferry was having a new rudder fitted at the Industrial & Marine Engineering Limited (IMEL) floating dock in Suva.
