Fijian Princess

[shipstamps]

The Fiji 8c. stamp shows an ex-fishing boat which has obviously become a mail-boat in a small way, the Fijian Princess. This stamp is also a U.P.U. 150th anniversary commemorative issue. The vessel is owned by the Princess Shipping Company, of Suva, and has a very unusual history. Originally owned by the South Pacific Co-operative Fishing Association of Japan, she was then named Fuji Maru No. 8. On December 23, 1964, while on the way to her fishing grounds she ran on to the Valukotu Reef, 60 miles from Suva. The captain of the fishing boat jettisoned all her cargo in an effort to lighten her in readiness for the next high tide, hoping to lift the catcher off the reef. The help did not materialise, and she remained fast. It was not until three months later the Capt Arthur Evans, of Fiji, with his crew in a Fijian cutter, slowly pulled the wrecked vessel off the reef, with much higher water running at that time.
They found that she was not too badly damaged and the engines were only slightly damaged by sea water. They towed the ship back to Suva and within a week the engines were working satisfactorily. The captain decided to convert her into an islands trading ship. This necessitated structural alteration by August 1965, the work was completed. Renamed Fijian Princess after conversion, the vessel now carries a crew of 14. Her tonnage is 99 length 98 ft. SG496

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a fishing vessel on the yard of Azuma Ship Building Co., Yokosuka, Japan for the South Pacific Co-operative Fishing Association.
1963 Launched under the name FUJI MARU NO 8.
Tonnage 196 gross, 99 net, dim. 99.4 x 18.8ft.
Powered by a diesel engine.
Crew 12.


On a fishing trip from Suva to the fishing grounds the vessel grounded about 11.25pm on 23 December 1964 on Valukotu Reef at Nairai Island in the Lomaiviti Group, some 60 miles from Suva.

Despite several attempts to refloat her, she was still fast on the reef at the end of the third day. All her gear and cargo had been jettisoned in an effort to lighten her. Three sisterships of the Co-operative the FUJI MARU NO 1, the No 10 and No 15 endeavoring to rescue No 8 but all attempts failed and they terminated the salvage operation and returned to Levuka. The crew of the No 8 were taken on board of the No 10.

FUJI MARU NO 8 was holed but not to badly so Capt. Arthur Evans from the Fiji Islands made an attempt, after the vessel was abandoned by the Japanese to salvage her.
His first attempt was in late December 1964 but the weather was bad and the sea boisterous that he abandoned the idea until the next spring tide in February when he got the vessel off the reef and towed her to Suva for repairs.

The FUJI MARU NO 8 was converted to an inter island vessel, renamed FIJAN PRINCESS, the refit taking until August 1969.
Capt. Evans was her first Captain after her refit he is also part owner of the Princess Shipping Company.
She has a crew of 14 and can carry 30 or more deck passengers, there are no cabins, and only the Captain and First Mate rate a cabin.

FIJIAN PRINCESS has a regular round 8 day voyage from Suva to Lakeba, Oneata, Noce, Namuka, Kabara, Fulaga and Ogen before she returns to Suva. Outward bound she takes general cargo, provisions, machinery and other items the people require on the outlying islands. On her return voyage she takes mostly copra.
She carries also the mail from and to and between the islands.
2010 www.equasis.org gives an FIJIAN PRINCESS II built in 1963, tonnage 196 gross, most probably she carried the name II already from her renaming or was later renamed, still owned by Princess Shipping at Suva. IMO number 6816255.

Source: lost.