17 Apr 2010

Interim ferry for Tonga arrives

11:23 am on 17 April 2010

An interim ferry to replace the Princess Ashika, which sank with the loss of 74 lives in August last year, has arrived in Tonga from Malaysia.

Under the command of a New Zealand Captain, Denis Nisbett, the Ajang Subuh berthed yesterday at Queens Salote wharf, in the capital Nukua'lofa.

The ship is expected to undergo some minor adjustments, including the installation of a crane, before making a trial run to the islands of Ha'apai and Vava'u.

It's expected to make its first commercial run in two weeks.

New Zealand and Australia will jointly fund the ferry for 12 months.