THE Liahona set sail for the northern Lau group last Friday with Yacata as her first stop.
Shipowner Ulaiasi Baivatu said the ship, which could carry up to 150 passengers, sails monthly to the northern and lower southern end of the Lau group.
On this leg, the Liahona is scheduled for stopovers at Vanuabalavu, Cikobia, Tuvuca, Nayau and Lakeba before she returns to Suva, after which she is expected to sail to Southern Lau islands, namely Kabara, Fulaga, Ogea, Vatoa and Ono.
The Liahona services routes which were previously covered by the Lau Provincial Council owned ship Lau Trader, a vessel that is currently not in service.
“Since there wasn’t any other boat they approached us to service the smaller islands,” Mr Baivatu said in an earlier interview.
The Liahona can carry up to 103 tonnes of cargo. She secured a three-month franchise for these routes, with a renewable tenure according to Mr Baivatu.
South Island Shipping Services, which the ship trades under, was initially set up to service Kadavu.
Mr Baivatu, sole proprietor and architect by profession, said he bought the Liahona from a friend who had purchased the vessel from FDB in 2009.
“The definition of the word Liahona is a compass which led Lehi and his people out of Jerusalem as recorded in the Book of Mormon. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The compass only works on faith,” Mr Baivatu said.
The vessel is 29 metres long putting the vessel at an advantage where smaller passages are concerned, Mr Baivatu said.
