Tongan Ferries-One Step Forward Then Two Steps Back

Drunken Night Watchman Burns Church Ferry

CHURCH OF TONGA FERRY BURNS AT WHARF
Cook stove thought to be cause of blaze

NUKU΄ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, June 22, 2009) – Nuku‘alofa’s Fire Service saved the lower deck of the burning MV Siupeli Koula ferry and its full engine of fuel, after the ferry caught on fire on Saturday night, June 20, at Tu'imatamoana Wharf.

Fire Officer Sinamoni Kauvaka said today, the 30-year-old passenger ferry owned by the Church of Tonga was reported on fire around 11:20pm on Saturday night. It is thought the fire started from a gas stove.

He said it was believed that the watchmen of the boat was cooking a pot of food on the stove but he fell asleep and did not wake until he heard shouts from people at the Billfish Bar parking lot that the ferry was on fire.

Sinamoni said the watchmen was not hurt and was able to get off the boat unharmed.

"The difficult part was when we arrived at the scene the fire had already engulfed the upper boat deck and it had drifted away from the slip where it was anchored at the wharf because the fire had burnt the ropes."

He said luckily one of their men went out on a small boat and managed to tie the boat to the wharf and they were able to put out the fire before reaching its lower deck, which consisted of a full engine of fuel, which could have exploded and caused more damage.

The damage to the 47-m ferry is estimated to be over $100,000 pa'anga (US$49,000).

Edited by: someone who has little to no use for the way religion strangles a place like Tonga

I find it surprising anyone paid attention to the yelling and screaming coming from the Billfish... Sounds like that all the time there.

Ah Yes Ye Old Billfish Bar-Nukulofa's finest (!)

I imagine that the noise from the Billfish crowd was caused only by their excitement at finding additional late night entertainment, rather than a desire to alert the hapless watchman.....

Hi ...just wondering if anywhere in Sth Pacific, incl. Tonga is warm enough to swim , for a "skinny minnie"! @ this time of year...ie. temp around 30 degrees celcius?