Purpose built boat to facilitate business in the islands

[Stacey King]

Pacific Island Trade & Investment Commission 29 Juy 2011

China is helping build a special fishing vessel to help islanders move their catches efficiently to their main markets for sales, exports or further processing. The $4 million vessel, which is 36.8 metre long and eight meters wide, has a storage capacity of 50 tonnes of cargo with nine passengers on board.

The craft that is currently undergoing advanced trials has been designed with inputs from Fiji’s Department of Fisheries, which will help run it in Fijian waters. The department says the vessel will also provide markets for other marine commodities like seaweed, which is a fast growing market in the islands.

In addition, it will help transport fisheries training facilities to the rural areas, helping develop human resources and build capacity in the fisheries industry in far flung areas.

The Chinese instructors ware expected to sail with the vessel along with a complement of trained Fijian seamen to Fiji next month and carry out further training with the local fisheries team before handing it over for local use.

If successful, the design could well prove a standard for use across other Pacific Islands under China’s grant programme – which has funded this first vessel for use in Fijian waters.

 

Photo / Pacific Islands Trade & Invest