Regional vessel LCT Kalyara is undergoing a major overhaul having been on the Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries Limited (FSHIL) for the past three months.

The Vanuatu landing barge was dry docked in March for normal repairs and maintenance. However, this led to major steel in cropping out damaged bottom shell plates and ramps.

And due to the owner’s continuous requests, the barge had all underwater gears and valves removed and serviced. LCT Kalyara was water blasted and the entire hull and tanks will be painted. Works also included timber repair works on upper deck and wheel house.

FSHIL Work Supervisor Samu Vasukira revealed that the work would continue for two more weeks.

“We are just working according to the owner’s preferences. The barge is undergoing a major refurbishment and we are glad that the owner is happy and satisfied the work we have been doing thus leading to the entire boat renovated,” Mr Vasukira said.

Three more Vanuatu vessels are lined up for maintenance and repair works the slipway. They are FV Faimanu, LC Tiwi Trader and Police boat RVS Tukoro.

FSHIL continues to set the standard for ship repairing in the Pacific region based on safety and reliability of its services.

Operation Manager, Lopeti Radravu said they are always committed to meeting their customers’ needs as they strive to maintain a business culture that is customer-focused.

But even though the services rendered are customer-focused, they ensure that their standard is not compromised in the process.

“We have our safety standards for ship repairing and we don’t just bend it or minimise it to meet the demand of our customers. If we tend to work according to their demands, sometimes it compromises the standard and the reliability of our services,” Mr Radravu said.

“This is our edge that enables us to service local repairs and tapping into the region. When ship owners align themselves to our standard, they always benefit from the end results, something they always appreciate and they always return when their vessels need servicing or repairing.”

He said they were proud not only to service vessels from the region but fishing vessels from Asian countries that fish in the region.