MV 'Otuanga'ofa

MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa at Tongatapu, by Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga
History
Tonga
Name‘Otuanga’ofa
OperatorFriendly Island Shipping Agency
Completed2010
HomeportNukuʻalofa
IdentificationIMO number: 9570357
StatusIn service
General characteristics
TypeFerry (RORO)
Tonnage
Length53 m (173 ft 11 in)
Beam13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)
Complement22
Notes400 passengers

MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa ("friendly islands")[1] is an inter-island ferry which has operated in Tonga since 2010. It replaced MV Princess Ashika, which had sunk on 5 August 2009, with 74 people lost at sea.

MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa was built in Japan and was paid for by the Japanese government at a cost of US$16 million.[2] It arrived in Tonga in October 2010,[3] and after a period of testing, entered service with the Friendly Island Shipping Agency in December 2010.[4] It normally operates between Nukuʻalofa, Pangai, and Neiafu.[4]

In January 2012 it collided with a stationary vessel twice at Nukuʻalofa while trying to dock. No injuries were reported, but $50,000 of damage was caused to the MV Sitka.[5] In May 2014 it ran aground at Niuatoputapu.[6][7] In July 2014 it was sent to Fiji for maintenance after cracks were found inside a ballast tank.[8] In June 2015 the captain was fired after the ship was found to be leaking.[9]

In September 2022 it was sent to Auckland, New Zealand for repairs. On its arrival, it was told to stay outside new Zealand waters for three weeks due to biosecurity risks.[10] The repairs took longer than expected,[11] and the ferry's absence caused significant disruption to the education of students in the Niua Islands, who were unable to travel to Tongatapu for the beginning of the school year.[12] The ferry returned to Tonga in April 2023.[13]

References

  1. ^ "New Tonga ferry checked ahead of planned launch". RNZ. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Tonga's new ferry soon to begin service". RNZ. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Tonga's new interisland ferry arrives". RNZ. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Tonga's new inter island ferry sets sail". RNZ. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  5. ^ "No injuries in Tonga ship collision". RNZ. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  6. ^ "MV 'Otuanga'ofa ferry runs aground at Niuatoputapu". Matangi Tonga. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Tonga's MV 'Otu Anga'ofa runs aground". Kaniva Tonga. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Tonga ferry undergoing maintenance". RNZ. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  9. ^ Kalino Latu (18 June 2015). "MV Niuvākai out of service, 'Otu Angaʻofa captain sacked after leaks found on ferries". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Tongan ferry told to stay out of New Zealand waters because it posed biosecurity threat". Kaniva Tonga. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. ^ Kalino Latu (31 January 2023). "Inter-island ferry finally due to leave Auckland after unexpected faults cause months of delays". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Students stranded for months as gov't could not afford hiring ferries for Niuas". Kaniva Tonga. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  13. ^ "MV 'Otuanga'ofa arrives back in Tonga". Matangi Tonga. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.


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