Otuangaofa

Rotting boxes of meat were destroyed in Pangai, Ha’apai on April 6, 2018, after arriving in unrefrigerated containers on the "Otuanga’ofa" from Tongatapu. 62 boxes of chicken, seven boxes of salted beef, 28 boxes of hot dogs, one box of chicken wings and two boxes of mutton flaps were found to be unfit for consumption and were destroyed the same day by the authorities, including officers from MAFFF (Ministry of Agricutlure) and MCCTIL. Initial inspections showed compliance until the rotting chicken and meat arrived on the ferry. The contaminated consignments were shipped in a few unrefrigerated containers on the ferry last week. The cargo left Tongatapu and travelled to Vava’u, where it was delayed due to bad weather and then finally shipped to Ha’apai. The putrid smell led officers to the consignments and they followed through by revisiting five foreign-managed shops where the contaminated chicken, salted beef, hot dogs, chicken wings and mutton flaps was consigned to. These were confiscated and destroyed.

The new passenger ship, MV’Otuanga’ofa, hit a stationary vessel in Nuku’alofa’s port while trying to dock. Radio Tonga says the ship hit the MV Sitka twice before it managed to dock at the Queen Salote international wharf. There are no report of injures among the 500 passengers onboard the Otuanga’ofa which arrived from Ha’apai an Vava’u. The MV Sitka has been damaged, with an initial estimate putting the damage at more than 50,000 US dollars. The shipping company’s general manager, Sefo Nginingini, says the accident will have a knock-on effect on his staff as the boat won’t be in operation and therefore they won’t be paid. The MV’Otuanga’ofa was bought to replace the ferry Ashika which sank in 2009, killing 74 people. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65478

New Tongan ferry ensures no Ashika repeat - Built last year, the new ship is equipped with the latest technology. The company which operates Tonga's new passenger ferry says safety, maintenance and crew training have become a priority in the wake of the Princess Ashika disaster. The Japanese-built and funded vessel replaced the Ashika, which sank in August 2009, killing 74 people. Ttonga's new interisland ferry is called the Otuanga'ofa. Inside, there's no comparison to the dilapidated state of the Princess Ashika. The ship also has flags to communicate with other vessels, portable radios, a dedicated rescue boat and enough life rafts for up to 400 passengers.