GOUNDAR Shipping Ltd has yet again announced its latest inclusion into Fiji’s shipping industry — the Lomaiviti Princess V.
The boat is called Queen of Nanaimo and was bought from Canada last week after managing director George Goundar spent millions of dollars on it in a bid to improve the local shipping industry.
This latest addition, according to bcferries.com, was built in 1964 in Victoria and is 129.97 metres long.
It has a maximum displacement of 4542 tonnes, carries more than 1500 passengers and about 90 cars.
Lomaiviti Princess V is a state-of-the-art vessel and boasts amenties such as coastal cafe, gift shop, kids zone, pet area, work/study stations, elevators and accessible washrooms.
An 18-member crew is expected to leave for Canada on September 10 to bring the new ship home.
Lomaiviti Princess V will service the Suva-Savusavu route daily.
Mr Goundar said he was also on the verge of completing talks with regards to the purchase of Lomaiviti Princess VI.
“The arrival of these two new vessels will also boost employment rate in Fiji and we are proud to be able to assist those who maybe looking for employment in the shipping industry.”
The company is also expected to construct its own dry-docking facility by the end of this year.
It spends $US1.5 million ($F3.14m) taking ships to New Zealand or Papua New Guinea to be serviced.
Mr Goundar said it was important to look after the services of those in the maritime islands as they relied solely on shipping services as a means of transportation.
