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MV Princess Ashika's first sailing in Tonga [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 15:14.  Updated on Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 16:30.

Passengers wait for the first sailing of the MV Princess Ashika from Queen Salote Wharf.

The MV Princess Ashika left for its maiden voyage to Ha'apai and Vava'u on Friday morning, July 4, with 360 passengers, the majority of them being people returning home from the Free Wesleyan Church Conference which ended on July 3.

At Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku'alofa the MV Princess Ashika was blessed by the new president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev Dr 'Ahio. Present were the Minister of Transport Hon Paul Karalus, the Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Yasuo Takase and board members 'Alisi Taumopeau and Lord Dalgety.

Rev Dr 'Ahio and Hon. Paul Karalus.

Hon Paul Karalus said that MV Princess Ashika is 50 meters long and 11.5 meters wide and it was launched in 1975. Although the ship is older than the 26-year-old MV 'Olovaha, she was well looked after and maintained.

He also told the gathering that he would travel to Tokyo on July 4 to open the tender for the construction of a new ferry. While in Japan he will also be looking at the shipyards and the construction program for the new 'Olovaha.

MV Princess Ashika.



People from the outer islands returning home after the Free Wesleyan Church Conference.



HE Mr Yasuo Takase, Hon. Paul Karalus, and Lord Dalgety.



Passengers wait at Queen Salote Wharf.
MV Princess Ashika [2]
Outer Islands [3]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2009/07/07/mv-princess-ashikas-first-sailing-tonga

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2009/07/07/mv-princess-ashikas-first-sailing-tonga [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/mv-princess-ashika?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/topic/outer-islands?page=1