South Sea Towage Ltd (SSTL) over the years has become equipped to handle a wide range of marine and engineering work within the Pacific basin.
In this respect for more than 60 years SSTL’s operations have grown with works including berthing, unberthing port duties, vessel tow, storm protection rescue, salvage operations in local and international waters, barge tow for both local and international waters, safety watch, machine and maintenance shop hot work to establish cliental, gangway hireage and marine electrical services.
Being a private registered Fijian company that was originally established in 1960, SSTL has a strong supportive shareholding, whose representatives play an active role within the South Sea Towage board.
“The SSTL crews in the past have been accepted in salvaging operations in Papua New Guinea waters, Wallis and Futuna Island, Adelaide, Tarana, Perth, Rarotonga.
Brisbane, Japan, Tahiti and Solomon Islands, working with a team of successful salvor thereby gaining valuable experience for the benefit of South Sea Towage Ltd own operation,” the company highlighted.
“Within Fiji Waters South Sea Towage Ltd salvaging work has been involved in mainly reef salvage operation.”
The company has nine tug vessels namely the Mayfield, Wickham, Carrington, Ratu Rabici, Tanunda, Wyambi, Nelia, Maika Tora and Dretia, six of which are stationed in Suva while three are based at the Lautoka Wharf.
The company says that it maintains a large fully-equipped modern machine workshop that is being self-sufficient in all engineering work for its fleet and to a strong growing cliental.
“Our range of machines and equipment along with our skilled trades people enable us to successfully design and manufacture a complex and diverse range of components.
“The onsite capabilities are able to handle one off requests along with the ability to carry out repair work on worn or damage components to the highest standard with a quick turn-around time,” SSTL states.
South Sea Towage Ltd maintains its vessels in line with Fiji’s statutory requirements controlled by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji who are the regulators and Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd who is a main contractor.
The company holds a long-term contract with FPCL which provides it with rights to conduct all movement within Fiji Ports Corporation designed ports — Suva and Lautoka.
While that remains its core business, other considerable parts of its operations involves engineering contracts, outer ports work and salvaging works.
According to the company, at Suva and Lautoka Ports it provides its a 24/7 tug response service, with tugs and crew stationed at the wharf to provide service and respond to any incidents relating to vessels and wharf safety.
