THE exact date when the MV 'Otuanga'ofa will start its service to Vava'u and Ha'apai is yet to be confirmed, but Vaka'uta Pola Vi, the CEO of the Friendly Island Shipping Agency FISH is adamant that the 'Otuanga'ofa will begin its commercial operation next month.

"There are still a lot of work to be done before we can start the service to the outer islands," said Vaka'uta.

The ferry was brought to Tonga by a Japanese captain and nine crew; three of the crew are Tongan. The Captain and the six Japanese crew members will return home at the end of the month, therefore a Tongan captain and a full Tongan crew should start familiarizing themselves with ferry before the Japanese left and they take over the operation of the ferrry.

The ferry has a trial run around Nuku'alofa harbor on October 19 and it was due to be moved to its berth place today in preparation for its official launching by the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu which was scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday October 21.

The official launching now has been postponed to next Thursday, October 28.

Meanwhile the working on the berthing places for the new ferry in Ha'apai and Vava'u is still in progress. As for the two Niuas, berths for the ferry are yet to be built.

The arrival of the MV 'Otuanga'ofa last Friday, October 15 aroused a lot of interest of people wanting to travel to Vava'u and Ha'apai but the uncertainties of when it will start sailing and how much for a ticket to Vava'u or Ha'apai has turned a few prospect passengers from the 'Otuanga'ofa to the old MV Pulupaki of Uata Shipping. The price of the tickets between Nuku'alofa and the outer islands will be the deciding factor on whether one will go on the 'Otuanga'ofa or the Pulupaki.