To strengthen existing maritime transportation, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport’s Government Shipping Franchise Scheme will commence services to the Beqa–Yanuca–Vatulele route from January 11, 2021.
To date, the scheme has assisted more than 17,000 maritime dwellers in the remotest rural communities of Fiji, with the carriage of more than 7000 tonnes of cargo transported to and from our main ports to the islands.
At present, Upper Southern Lau, Northern Lau, Lower Southern Lau, Yasayasa Moala, Yasawa, North East Vanua Levu, Kadavu, Lomaiviti and Rotuma are the nine routes serviced under the scheme with 70 ports within the routes.
This newly-introduced 10th route will open opportunities for additional 10 ports to be serviced, following an assessment undertaken by the ministry from 2017 to 2019.
The assessment underpins the importance of ensuring safe trade, commerce and transportation of goods and passengers within these islands.
The Beqa–Yanuca–Vatulele route will be serviced every two months providing service to 14 villages with a population of 2050 people ensuring island communities have access to transport services for movement of both passengers and cargo.
The Fijian Government is facilitating this service with all costs borne by the Government, under the Shipping Subsidy Scheme.
Fijians in Beqa/Yanuca and Vatulele are encouraged to make use of the service.
The ports for service include Beqa (Waisomo, Raviravi, Dakuibeqa, Naceva, Dakuni and Soliayaga), Yanuca, and Vatulele (Taunovo, Ekubu, Lomanikaya and Bouwaqa).
The ministry remains committed to ensuring these services remain available to maritime communities, as an integral component of the economic growth and development.
