NOTE: WATERWAYS IN THIS CONTEXT RELATES TO ‘INTERISLAND SEA TRAVEL’
Domestic shipping services
There is one domestic shipping service, the government-owned Friendly Islands Shipping Agency (FISA) operates inter-island shipping services, including the ferry service, on a commercial basis.
Due to the isolated nature and relatively small size and population of a number of the Kingdom’s islands, internal (interisland) waterways form a vital part of Tonga’s supply chain. Many of the smaller islands have neither docking capability for larger vessels nor airstrips, making them reliant on supply by small boats for commerce, social, educational and medical needs.
There are a number of smaller, private operators transporting small cargo and providing water taxi and charter services.
Services are weather effected and may be cancelled due to windy / rough water conditions, particularly during the cyclone season (November – April).
The Government has stated its highest priority for the Maritime sector is increasing the safety and resilience of all maritime activities, especially in relation to inter-island shipping, there is currently no budget or timelines set for any significant developments.
Company Information
The one domestic shipping company operating is the government owned Friendly Islands Shipping Agency
There appears to be adequate cargo and passenger capacity at present and no immediate plans to expand services in the region.
Maintenance and safety issues have arisen in the past with reported ferry groundings. The most notable incident was the sinking of the inter-island ferry the MV Princess Ashika that sank in 2009 with the loss of 74 persons. Despite Tongan Ministry of Transport surveyor’s claims they considered the vessel to be totally unseaworthy, they failed to stop operations of the vessel
For information on Tonga Waterways contact details, please see the following links:
4.4 Tonga Port and Waterways Company Contact List
4.1 Tonga Government Contact List
|
Friendly Islands Shipping Company (FISA) |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 20 Passengers |
0 |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 50 Passengers |
0 |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 100 Passengers |
0 |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels > 100 Passengers |
1 (400 passengers) |
|
Friendly Islands Shipping Company (FISA) |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of Boats |
2 |
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
1 x 520 (plus 400 passengers) 1 x 241 =761 MT total |
|
Number of Barges |
None |
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
n/a |
|
Number of Tugs |
None |
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
n/a |
Travel Time Matrix
The travel times below are taken using the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa. (400 passenger Ferryboat)
|
Time in Hours |
Nuku’alofa |
Nomuka |
Ha’afeva |
Pangai |
Neiafu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nuku’alofa |
5 |
7 |
9.5 |
16.5 |
|
|
Nomuka |
5 |
2 |
4.5 |
11.5 |
|
|
Ha’afeva |
7 |
2 |
2.5 |
9.5 |
|
|
Pangai |
9.5 |
4.5 |
2.5 |
7 |
|
|
Neiafu |
16.5 |
11.5 |
9.5 |
7 |
Key Routes
NOTE: THIS TABLE RELATES TO RIVER TRANSPORT AND IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE TONGA LCA. THERE IS NO TRANSPORT BY RIVER WATERWAYS
|
Key Route Information Domestic / International |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
From: To: |
From: To: |
From: To: |
|
|
Total Distance (km) |
|||
|
Width (m) |
Broadest: |
Broadest: |
Broadest: |
|
River Flow (m³ / second) |
|||
|
Seasonal Effects |
|||
|
Maximum Weight and Size of Vessels |
|||
|
Regular Traffic Passenger / Cargo |
|||
|
Companies Operating Along the Route |
|||
|
Security Concerns |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
|
Main Ports |
|||
Port Information
|
Key Port Information |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Port Name |
Port Name |
Port Name |
|
|
Location |
Nuku’alofa |
Neiafu |
Pangai |
|
Contact Information |
|||
|
Connections with Other Transport Means |
21 km by road to Fua’amotu International Airport |
10 km by road to Lupepauʻu Airport |
10 km to Lifuka Airport |
|
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
|
||
|
Handling Equipment |
|||
|
Customs Clearance Available |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
|
Other Comments |
Further detail available on ports available under sections 2.1 – 2.1.3 |
||
