MV Ajang Subuh arrives in Nuku'alofa [1]
Friday, April 16, 2010 - 19:34. Updated on Sunday, May 25, 2014 - 21:15.
The MV Ajang Subuh arrived in Nuku'alofa this morning and is expected to set on its first sail to the outer islands next week after the service is launched by HM King George Tupou V on Wednesday, April 21.
Dennis Nisbet, the captain said the new vessel was launched in Malaysia in 2008 and this Tongan operation is its first official service.
The MV Ajang Subuh was welcomed to Nuku'alofa at 9:00 am on a beautiful sunny morning.
The 41m vessel accommodates 70 passengers, nine crew and 150 tonnes of cargo. It has an enclosed fully air conditioned cabin area for 50 people. In addition are seven cabins fully furnished with bunk beds fitting up to four people each.
The captain said two of the cabins would be occupied by the crew and the remaining five are for passengers.
The operation of the vessel on its first month in Tonga starting next week would be temporarily managed by New Zealand Company Transport and Marine Ltd whose crew accompanied the vessel after 22 days of sailing from Malaysia.
Watching the arrival of the vessel at the wharf was New Zealand High Commissioner HE Christine Bogle and the Australian High Commissioner HE Dr Bruce Hunt whose governments are putting in $1.9 million each to charter the interim vessel for Tonga. Also present was Acting Minister of Transport Hon Nuku and Secretary of Transport 'Eleni Mone.
Tender
Meanwhile, the Government of Tonga this week invited submissions for the management of the vessel on its remaining term of operation in Tonga, which would run from mid-July 2010 to March 2011.
The Invitation to Apply for Pre Qualification and Submit Applications for On Ship Management of the ferry was opened to the public on April 15 - 30 by the Ministry of Transport.
Under the tender, a total of eight crew is required; two should be local Tongans so as to provide on-the-job training opportunity for Tongan seafarers.
The successful operator would be responsible for crew arrangements, ship maintenance, human resource management, and safe ship management, navigation and communications equipment and compliance requirements.
The MV Ajang Subuh would provide a routine service of transporting passengers and cargo to the outer islands, including Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu.
The Government of Tonga is covering local costs and is responsible for onshore management arrangements.
The new Olovaha ferry, which is currently under construction in Japan, is expected to arrive in Tonga in October this year.