Photos by Caroline Manu-Moli

The 40^th anniversary of shipping company, Pacific Forum Line (PFL), was celebrated last night by staff and guests at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’alofa.

The PFL global management teams from Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia also joined in the celebration.

PFL (Tonga) General Manager, Kepu Ngaluafe said the company has reached a milestone and he hopes it continues for many years to come. He said the company was started by former heads of states in the Pacific.

In 1978, PFL was established by the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga, the late Sir Ratu Kamisese Mara of Fiji, the late High Chief Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa, and supported by the late Albert Henry of the Cook Islands and Sir Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea. They all shared the same vision of having a regional shipping line serving the Pacific Island countries.

That same year, PFL held its first meeting at Tonga College and registered its office in Samoa.

“Over the years, PFL expanded from three members to 12 including all the forum states of the Pacific Islands,” said Kepu.

In 2012, Samoa purchased PFL with 100% ownership. Kepu said that Samoa offered Tonga to buy 50% share of PFL but was turned down. In 2014, Neptune Shipping Line bought 50% of the shares plus the management rights of running the day to day operation of the company.

“In the last two years, [the] Samoa Government has been enjoying US$1million dividend each year from PFL operations,” said Kepu.

He added that it was smart of the "geniuses to establish PFL 40 years ago and the legacy still stands for generations to come."

Today PFL services cover the Samoa’s, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji and PNG shipping goods to and from almost anywhere in the world. It has also increased services recently to call into the ports of the Samoa’s, Tonga and Fiji at least once a week.