In June, Pacific Jewel made a little history in visiting Dravuni Island, one of our tender ports among P&O Cruises’ idyllic South Pacific destinations.
The Jewel’s passengers became the first visitors to the Fijian island to use a new landing pontoon, the result of a joint effort between P&O Cruises and local authorities.
As Paul Mifsud, Manager of Port Operations explains, the project was two years in the making to replace an existing pontoon and to install navigation aids.
Dravuni Island’s population of around 80 — including the children, who were given time off from school for the big event — gathered on the pontoon to celebrate its successful construction and opening for visits.
“Everyone there was so proud of this new piece of equipment and their own work in putting it together,” Paul said.
“It is like a Lego set with all these components and the local people had the task of assembling it.
“They were pretty elated to know that this wasn’t just the first pontoon of its type in Fiji but the first of its kind in the South Pacific.
“It is the kind of pontoon that we would like to have at each of our tender ports one day.”
The pontoon at Dravuni Island took about two weeks to build.
In addition to being important to our operational needs, the pontoon is another indication of P&O Cruises building positive relationships in the South Pacific communities that we visit.
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- Dravuni Island Pontoon Under Construction
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- Dravuni Island Pontoon and Local Community
