A charter vessel, the 'Ajang Subuh' will offer an interim inter-islands ferry service for Tonga, starting in April when the vessel arrives in Nuku'alofa from Malaysia, according to simultaneous statements from the Hon Stephen Smith, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, the Hon. Murray McCully, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, and the Tongan Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele.

The interim service is jointly funded by Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. Australia and New Zealand provided A$1.9 million each, and the Tongan Government will cover local costs such as fuel and vessel maintenance and will be responsible for on-shore management arrangements.

"The interim ferry service will provide the essential transportation link between Nuku'alofa and the outer islands until the new Olovaha that is under construction in Japan arrives later in the year," Dr Sevele stated.

The project of identifying a vessel to offer a temporary inter-island ferry service for Tonga was announced in Cairns, Australia during the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum annual conference, which was in progress when the MV Princess Ashika sank on 5 August, 2009.

"Finding a vessel that can safely operate in Tonga's challenging marine environment has been our priority. The Ajang Subuh meets the requirements set down by the Tongan Government, and complies with rigorous international maritime safety standards," Hon Murray McCully stated. "The Ajang Subuh has undergone an independent survey in Malaysia by internationally-recognised surveyors London Off-shore Consultants, which found it seaworthy and fit for purpose."

Ashiuka disaster

The Ashika disaster, in which 74 people were lost including all the women and children on board, was a wake-up call for Tonga to take a closer look at the status of its shipping services.

The Marine Division of the Ministry of Transport began to be very strict in the issuing of certificate of seaworthiness to vessels offering inter-islands service. By the end of January 2010 the only ferry that was still running, the privately owned MV Pulupaki was declared unseaworthy and stopped from sailing.

For nearly three months since then the northern groups of the Tonga islands, Ha'apai, Vava'u and the two Niuas have been without an inter-island ferry service.

There is a direct fuel tanker service to Vava'u and a regular container ship to Vava'u. An overseas cargo ship also calls at Ha'apai regularly.

However, Ha'apai relied on the inter-island ferry service for the supply of diesel from Vava'u for its diesel generator s.

The Niuas are now relying entirely on emergency services offered by the TDS patrol boats and foreign navy ships.

The only means of going from one island group to another in Tonga is by the domestic air service which is offered by the Chatham Pacific. unfortunately the airfares is beyond the mean of most Tongans, for example, one may find a one way air fare to New Zealand cheaper than to fly to one way to Vava'u.

The arrival of the 'Ajang Subuh' will serve as an interim service until the arrival of the new MV Olovaha in November.

Ajang Subuh

The 'Ajang Subuh', according to a statement from the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele has been classed by the American Bureau of Shipping to be suitable for passenger and cargo operations in Tongan waters.

The vessel was built in 2008 and it is 41 meters long, and it can carry 50 passengers and 200 tonnes of deck cargo. . The vessel has a top speed of 15.5 knots (28.7 kilometres per hour). It also has been confirmed that it can enter and berth safely at all Tongan ports without any "significant modifications to ports and wharves. It has undergone an independent survey in Malaysia by internationally-recognised surveyors, London Off-shore Consultants, which found it seaworthy and fit for purpose," he stated.