Tonga and Columbus sign

on the dotted line

Tonga expects a number of advantages for her maritime industry under a contract sig ned on February 7 by the Prime Minister, Prince Tu’ipelehake, and Hamburg based Columbus Line. Col umbus, as agent for the West German Government, will provide the expertise and in frastructure for various maritime ventures, made possible under that country’s economic co-operation programme.

The contract was signed on behalf of Columbus by the line president, Mr Erwin Ludewig, and Mr Achim Drescher, Columbus regional director in the South Pacific.

Under the contract a new shipping line. Shipping Cor poration of Polynesia Ltd (SCP), was set up with Tonga holding a 60% interest and Columbus 40%.

Mr Ludewig made a special rip to Nukualofa from West Germany to sign the contract n the palace office. King Paula'ahau Tupou cut short a state visit to Nauru to return o Nukualofa to receive Mr in audience after the contract was signed. They dis :ussed shipping matters.

Under the contract West jermany’s economic co-op- Tation expenditure for Tonga v'i\\ be $A6.5 million in 1978 $A5.9 million in capital aid nd SA6OO 000 for technical ssistance).

This is what Tonga will ain: • A 4 000 tonne lift-on-lift •ff roll-on-roll-off (1010-roro) essel, which Tonga will

charter to the Pacific Forum Line; • Appointment of Colum bus Line as a consultant on domestic and overseas ship ping matters; • Re-establishment of domestic services covering the main groups of Tongatapu, Haapai and Vavau; • Financial aid from West Germany to refit and re-struc ture the Inter-island vessel, Olovaha; • A marine training school at Nukualofa and • A technical workshop at Nukualofa.

Columbus Line will man age, maintain and arrange crews for ships West Germany supplies to Tonga under the economic co-operation programme. The first ship is likely to be the one to be char tered to the Forum Line and is expected to be delivered early in 1979.

This ship will be owned by Tonga, registered in Tonga, crewed by Tongans and sail under the Tongan flag. When chartered to the Forum Line it will operate between various South Pacific coun tries and to New Zealand and/or Australia. The object is to supply Tonga with a regular frequent service for both export and import cargoes. The ship will be used in an effort to revive Tonga’s banana trade.

Another vessel will be pro vided by West Germany to ca rry about 100 passengers and cargo on inter-island services in Tonga. This will run in con

junction with the Olovaha, which is under refit at Suva.

The Olovaha will be fitted with new auxiliary engines and will be provided with other new marine engine parts. The object is to extend the life of the Olovaha by two or three years, after which a new ferry may be provided.

The Olovaha is being brought up to accepted international safety standards.

The training school will turn out seamen to crew Tongan ships, and will be staffed by West German and Tongan instructors. The school will be similar to the school which West Germany is providing for Western Samoa.

The technical workshop is a joint New Zealand-West Ger many project, which will pro vide technical equipment and maintenance for ships on Tonga's internal service. The concept of the workshop was developed by the NZ High Commissioner in Tonga, Mr Donald Hunn, and West Ger many.

The board to conduct the operations of SCP comprises Baron Vaea, Tonga’s Minister for Economics, Tevita Tupou, Tonga's Crown Solicitor. Mr Cecil Cocker. Tonga’s Direc tor of Economics, Mr Drescher and Mr Rex Brown, director and general manager, Columbus Maritime Services, New Zealand. The alternate directors are Mr Albin Johansson, general manager of the International Dateline Hotel and a chartered ac countant (for Tonga) and Mr

Ralph Sanft, Tonga busi nessman and honorary consul for West Germany in Tonga (for Columbus).

Discussions between Tonga and Columbus on establishing West German economic co operation with Tonga, started in January, 1977, at the high est level King Taufa’ahau Tupou on one side and Mr Ludewig on the other.

Having established links with Columbus, the Tonga Government has withdrawn from Pacific Navigation of Tonga (PIM, March, p 63), and is offering its interest in that line to the J. Lauritzen group, of Denmark. PNT will be free to continue trading under their present name as long as they wish.

However, there seems to be an inconsistency or conflict of interests. Baron Vaea, as well as being on the board of SCP, is also chairman of PNT. Mr Cocker is a director of both companies, and Tevita Tupou, as well as being on the SCP board is an alternate director of PNT. • Marine Pacific Ltd, of Fiji has increased its tug fleet to four with the purchase of the Pacific Salvor, 340 tonnes, in Bahrain. It will be used for salvage work and ocean tow ing, Marine Pacific has also acquired another barge, which has been named MPL4, of 510 tonnes. This replaces the GM 10 barge which sank of Yanuca Island in 1977.