It was cool seeing the group of Fijians saluting the Lomaiviti Princess as she passed Garry Point in Richmond two weeks ago.
Well. Two million dollars sale price. I'd say BC Ferries did pretty well on that one.
I notice the article put 'new' in capital letters when refering to the ferry, and did not mention that she's actually 46 years old. Perhaps by Fijian shipping standards, a vessel that age which has been maintained her whole life by a reputable company like BC Ferries is a step up from what they're used to. And certainly, with her rust all painted over, the ex-'Rupert should cut a fairly fine figure as she steams into her new territory.
Odd that the vessel has been bought without a definite route in mind. Here's hoping for the best for an old coastal stalwart in her new life.
:)yes, I would say the new owners have paid quite a hefty price for my old QPR, maybe that sum will go towards topping off the Hahnsman's sallery! as for today's sad commentary of past BC leaders, I for one think all our past leaders from all political stripes were good British Columbians! and most supported local industry! :)mrdot.
Post by Starsteward on Aug 23, 2011 8:35:28 GMT -8
Did anyone think the 'old girl' couldn't make the long trip across the pond as well as she did?? Of course not Handled with a TLC, she's demonstrated once again she's got some good service left in her new carreer in Fiji. Thanks to everyone who's posted updates, sightings, pictures, links etc. along the way, they were nostaligically informative and much appreciated. The FBC radio links are fantastic to listen to live streaming of the various music stations on the FBC menu. For a real treat, click on the station that plays authentic Fijian music, ( I'll let you search for it, more fun that way), turn up the volume and while listening in, go to your favourite pictures of the QPR/L.P., close your eyes and pretend you're on the fore-deck of the ship as she arrives in Levuka, Fiji. Cheap 'busman's holiday'
Lomaiviti Princess here to serve writer : LOSALINI RASOQOSOQO 8/24/2011
The much-awaited vessel which is expected to ease the shipping problem faced by the people of Lomaiviti arrived into the country yesterday morning.
The MV Lomaiviti Princess, owned by Goundar Shipping Limited, was welcomed by the people of Ovalau as she docked at Levuka Wharf.
“There was a cere (i-taukei welcome ceremony) performed at the wharf and there were merrymaking as people gathered in numbers to see the ship,” director of Lomaiviti Studio Manhar Vithal said from Levuka yesterday.
According to Goundar Shipping, the ship, formerly known as the Queen of Prince Rupert, is expected to begin operation on September 15.
The vessel was bought from British Columbia (BC) Ferries. The Fiji Sun has determined that she was built at a cost of $6 million in 1966.
The 100.1 metres (332 ft) ship has a carrying capacity of 800 passengers, 80 vehicles and is 17.71m wide.
Goundar Shipping had indicated that apart from serving Koro, Levuka and Gau, they wish to service Kadavu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Rotuma
Goundar Shipping once owned the MV Tuilevuka.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
From this to a more serious matter as reported by the Fiji Times:
Warning on overloading Salaseini Vosamana Wednesday, August 24, 2011
THE Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has advised shipping companies not to overload passengers during these two weeks school holidays.
This follows concerns raised by a group of passengers travelling from Savusavu to Suva last Sunday who said the vessel was overloaded.
Administration assistant director Felix Maharaj said shipowners needed to adhere to rules and regulations set out for them to safeguard their passengers.
"We are now on the school break and most people will be travelling. Shipowners must not breach the rules and instead consider the required amount of passengers in their vessels," Mr Maharaj said.
"The safety of people is paramount when travelling at sea and owners must think twice about overloading passengers. Accidents are bound to happen and it is only appropriate to stress out the importance of lives of those that will be travelling in the vessels."
Mr Maharaj, however, said the administration was not aware of the incident last Sunday but he had assured they would look into the matter.
"Overloading is an illegal act and the administration will check with the shipping company to clarify on the matter," he said.
Thanks for finding and posting this (your investigative persistence is much appreciated)
My pleasure!
It's been fun to dig up and find news on this ship. Especially news from the Fijians themselves originating from their homeland country. I've been learning more about what's happening there as well. They seem to be very strict on the food contents as well as the maintenance of their own driving machines. I just watched a video of new arrivals of tour buses. Those have the doors on the left side. Could they be driving on the left side of the road there?
Let's take a moment to thank the big man upstairs for overseeing this ship and her crew and that they made it to her new home safely. She'll be a blessing to her new customers.
Though I didn't take a ride aboard this ship, I got to see this at least three times a day from my get-away place here on Puget Sound in 1980 when she stood in for the PRINCESS MARGUERITE. She did two round trips a day between Seattle and Victoria. An early morning trip from Seattle, an afternoon trip from Victoria, an early evening trip from Seattle. I missed watching the fourth trip as I was in bed as well as those aboard on her overnight slow boat trip back to Seattle. If I didn't see her, during fog that is, I heard her whistles sounded. A set of three set to a major chord, exactly like what the QUEEN OF NANAIMO has.
Enjoy this ship, Fiji islanders!
PRINCESS MARGUERITE, OLYMPICS, PUGET SOUND, EARLY 1970S
"Lomai Boat" is the video story. Oh, yes, they do get "clammy" conditions there sometimes.
The ship took her first unofficial inter-Fiji-island voyage from Levuka to Suva where she opened up her bow door. It looks like work will now commence in earnest to get this ship ready for her new life serving within the Fiji Islands.
Screen capture from Fiji Television
PRINCESS MARGUERITE, OLYMPICS, PUGET SOUND, EARLY 1970S
Funny to see them hoisting the Rescue Boat up, and using Oars to keep the vessel parallel to the ship....Not a good sign if they don't know what the painter line is for
Seriously though, it is nice to see the Rupert getting one last kick at the cat
Post by Starsteward on Aug 27, 2011 19:27:02 GMT -8
I have posted my interior and exterior pictures of the Lomaiviti Princess from my visit to Deas Pacific Marine on Friday, August 5th, 2011 before the old girl set sail for her new home in Fiji. The Lomaiviti Princess album is at: htttp://s719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/starsteward. Thought some of our members would like to see what the ship looked like inside, after the purchase by George Goundar and the preparations his crew mad to get the ex. QPR ready for her Trans-Pacific epic journey!
She looks about the same, they've just loaded her car deck up with stuff.
Cheers,
Think before you drink, because once you have had a few drinks, we know you don’t think that well. - Barry Penner, Attorney General, British Columbia -
Post by Starsteward on Aug 29, 2011 10:00:29 GMT -8
In response, I would ask, Looks the same as when? Exterior does indeed look far better than when she was decommissioned but the car deck was a real rusty, dirty mess.
I was on her two years ago and at decommissioning. You made a couple of comments about the galley and the forward seating area chairs being replaced, they have not changed since I was on her as far as I can tell. Of course the car deck is going to be a dirty dusty mess, shes been sitting for a long time.
I don't think that the new owner has really done anything to her other than apply a bit of paint and load her up with a bunch of stuff.
Cheers,
Think before you drink, because once you have had a few drinks, we know you don’t think that well. - Barry Penner, Attorney General, British Columbia -
Two more news stories from the Fiji Times of the MV LOMAIVITI PRINCESS as well as a request to qualified Fiji country folks for the staffing of the ship:
THE people of Lomaiviti are anticipating the new shipping services that will be provided by the Lomaiviti Princess.
The roko tui Lomaiviti, Penijamini Tuvili, said yesterday the boat would be able to serve islands in the Lomaiviti Group that did not access regular shipping services as promised by boat owners.
"If the boat is cleared by relevant authorities, it would be able to get to Nairai, Batiki and Gau that are currently facing irregular shipping services," Mr Tuvili said.
He said villagers could regularly bring in their produce to the city through the regular service promised.
Acting Director of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji Captain Felix Anthony said the boat was in very good condition and seaworthy.
"All that's left for the boat is for it to get full registration with us but there is really no problem with the boat," Mr Anthony said.
He said the boat was under customs inspection and once cleared, it would be able to be fully registered to set sail.
The boat was bought from Canada by Subramani Goundar, a former chief engineer, with the purpose of servicing the Lomaiviti Group.
The vessel was purchased for more than $2million.
The ship is 101 metres long and has the capacity to carry 800 passengers and 80 vehicles.
A FORMER ferry engineer in Canada has returned to Fiji after almost 30 years to assist the people of Lomaiviti by providing a ship to service islands in the group.
Subramani Goundar is no stranger to the shipping industry in Fiji. His father once operated a local shipping company called Narayan Goundar Shipping.
Mr Goundar was at the Narayan Jetty in Suva on Thursday morning offloading equipment from the Lomaiviti Princess, a ship he bought in Canada for the purpose of servicing the Lomaivit Group.
He was a chief engineer for almost 25 years with British Columbia Ferries, the previous owner of the vessel which operated it in Vancouver.
"I'm here with the hope to servicing the Lomaiviti route. I'll be concentrating on Lomaiviti, Suva to Gau, Levuka, Koro, Savusavu and Taveuni, and also daily trips to Kadavu," Mr Goundar said.
He said he would discuss the matter with authorities because he had come back with the intention of serving his home country.
"Hopefully we can sit down with other ship owners and draw out a schedule. I know they won't be happy about a new company but I've come back with a family background of almost 40 years of shipping in Fiji."
Mr Goundar, a former Levuka Public School student, has been in touch with some of his old teachers from the Fiji School of Maritime. He said he would offer the ship to be used to train the country's future mariners.
From my wife's copy of an old Victoria tourist guidebook.
That photo was taken in 1980 when she subbed for the PRINCESS MARGUERITE.
I heard a few fellow student mates at my high school singing "Take A Princess To Sea" during the final days of the 1979-1980 school year and saying how much they would miss the MAGGIE that summer. We would get her back in 1981!
:)that was a sorry substute for Princess Margurete, indeed! and I commented on that mini-wac political decision at the time in the Times-Colonist, way back when! :)mrdot.
:)that was a sorry substute for Princess Margurete, indeed! and I commented on that mini-wac political decision at the time in the Times-Colonist, way back when! :)mrdot.
A lot of people felt the same. But, we've forgiven her. And, the nice major chord sounds that came out of her three trumpets on her mast would cheer up anyone who would be having a bad day.
Meanwhile, on the Fiji front, the Fiji Times report an increase of visitors as this paper reports:
Arrivals go up 16pc
Serelisoni Moceica Tuesday, September 06, 2011
VISITOR arrivals into the country have jumped to ...
LOMAIVITI PRINCESS I live in Fiji, on Koro Island, and will be using LOMAIVITI PRINCESS to travel between Koro and Suva, the capital city. I have also taken Alaska State Ferries twice out of Rupert to Petersburg, AK where I was living. I would be happy to supply info and photos of her new home.