Plans to send a Samoan shipping vessel to the Cook Islands' northern group have been pushed back by a week to allow bad weather to pass and more cargo to be added to the voyage.
According to the Cook Islands News, the Samoan Shipping Company has not yet set a specific date for the first voyage from Apia, but it's expected to occur before the end of March.
The trip is planned to reach all five islands in the northern group and the vessel is being used primarily for the transport of cargo with a limited space for passengers as well.
The Cook Islands government has been in discussions with the Samoan Shipping Company for a number of months to establish the shipping link.
The Deputy Prime Minister's Office chief executive Patrick Arioka says the vessel would take basic dry foods, diesel and petrol to deliver to the islands.
Arioka said there were plans to have the company complete another voyage in about two months' time depending how successful the first trip is.
