The Marine Department shipyard won a $180,000 contract in 1969 for the construction of a 121ft vessel for Blue Lagoon Cruises.
This was the first commercial order taken by the yard and meant jobs for the Marine Department’s workforce of 160 specialised ship builders were now secure.
An article published in The Fiji Times on Friday, June 6 that year reported it was feared half of them would be laid off in the middle of that year because of lack of work.
The news of the order and the prospective order for Tui Lau’s replacement, was announced by the then Minister for Communications, Works and Tourism, Charles Stinson, during a ceremony at the shipyard at Walu Bay where his wife launched a 58ft pilot boat for Lautoka.
Mr Stinson said Fiji had the skill, knowledge and facilities which were an asset for the country.
“It would be a tragedy if this asset was dissipated. “Fiji has too few assets to be able to afford to waste any of them.
“The government was nearing the end of its ship building program and for economic reasons, the construction of the few remaining ships needed would be spread over a longer period.
“Government has been faced with the agonising prospect of having to lay off about 70 of these men.
“It would result in breaking up a skilled body of men who have proved that Fiji can build stout ships.
“The government had asked local commercial interest if they could take the shipyard over but they could not.
“I informed then that government was anxious to encourage shipbuilding in Fiji and that the government itself would take steps to seek work.
“That is work which is beyond the capacity of local private firms — both in Fiji and from neighbouring territories.”
The Blue Lagoon vessel was the biggest ship built in Fiji back then. Mr Stinson said the government shipyard was the only one capable of building the vessel.
There were plans to sub-contract some work to commercial firms.
“This work will not only ensure continued employment for our skilled workforce but the vessel will, I hope, be a showpiece which will demonstrate what Fiji can do and encourage other territories to place shipbuilding orders here.
“The government is confident that the final cost of building this vessel in Fiji will be competitive with ships built in Hong Kong and Japan after account is taken of delivery costs.”
The minister added government would ask local shipyards to tender for the construction of its smaller vessels and would adopt a policy of using commercial vessels for the carriage of government freight and passengers.
This would reduce government’s need for ships and for this reason it had been decided to postpone the building of a second landing craft and a replacement for the Fairwind.
Mr Stinson said he hoped a local company would have another landing craft built by the Marine Department’s shipyard.
