The South Seas Shipping Company (SSSC) at the beginning of April began an inter-island general cargo service in Tonga, using a chartered general cargo vessel, the MV Sitka.

The owner of the SSSC and the Master Shipman of the Sitka, Sefo Nginingini, said on April 8 at the Queen Salote Wharf that they were loading up for their fourth trip to the northern islands. "We are calling at the usual port of calls, Ha'afeva, Pangai, then Neiafu, and return."

Sefo said that with their earlier voyages they did not do very well financially, "but it is picking up. We have just installed a 20ft refrigerated container, and I am bringing in another one from New Zealand." He said needed cargoes are frozen meat and foodstuff from Nuku'alofa to the islands, and frozen fisheries products from the islands to Nuku'alofa.

Sefo was working in Australia for the Lord Howe Shipping Company when he heard about the Ashika disaster. He wanted to help the Tongan people and so he decided to charter the 43m Sitka from the company. The 239 tonnes vessel can carry 200 tonnes of general cargo.

"After the Ashika disaster that left Tonga with no inter-island ferry I approached the company owner with a proposal to charter the vessel to operate in Tonga," said Sefo.

The Sitka arrived in Tonga on March 18 and it did some test runs to the outer islands before he was granted a Tongan license to operate for one year. The Sitka officially started serving the inter-island sea route between, Nuku'alofa, Ha'afeva, Pangai, Neiafu and return on the first week of April.

Since the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika last August, the process of issuing a certificate of seaworthiness became very strict, and there has been no inter-island ferry service between Tongatapu and the northern groups of Ha'apai, Vava'u and the Niuas.

The only inter island ferry service in operation has been between Tongatapu-'Eua.