The Tui Tai, a ship which was 40m in length, was the second largest ship ever to be built in Fiji during the late 1970s.
She had seating capacity and other facilities to accompany more than three hundred day passengers.
She was built primarily to serve Beachcomber and Treasure Island resorts from Lautoka and the Coral Coast, but was also available for charter and other special trips within the Fiji group and to Rotuma.
Highlighted in The Fiji Times on December 17, 1980, the Tui Tai was believed to be one of the finest ships built by local boatbuilders.
To save fuel, for added propulsion and to give the vessel extra stability, safety and romantic appeal; the Tui Tai had been rigged as a stay-sail schooner, with three tall aluminium masts and 6000 square feet of sail.
The masts, were estimated to be higher than the top of Dominion House in Suva.
The masts had been manufactured by Yacht Spars of New Zealand, and was installed by a New Zealand team headed by Max Carter; a former manager of Millers boatyard in Suva. Mr Carter also designed the rigging.
The sails were from Hoods, New Zealand, and were ordered through David Lackie, of Suva.
The cloth was a special ultra-violet ray resistant synthetic and was the colour of a tropical sunset.
The diesel propulsion motors were of the famous English Gardner brand, regarded by many experts as the best and most economical in the world.
The auxiliary motors and alternators were GMS from Clyde Engineering, Suva.
All motors were of mounted and coupled for vibration-free silence, and the engines were freshwater cooled, using the twin bilge keels as heat exchangers.
Exhausts and mufflers were made of stainless steel, with water injection for coolness , fume and noise reduction.
The hydraulic steering gear was made by Wagner Engineering, of Canada. Engine controls to the wheelhouse were also hydraulic and are from Hydronic Corporation of US.
The New Zealand aid international firm of carboline helped with the supervising of the high quality painting called for in the specifications.
The wheelhouse was particularly well-equipped with navigational instruments and remote controls.
Aft of the wheelhouse is particularly a VIP lounge and the master’s cabin and bathroom.
Also on the top deck was a spacious and comfortable covered seating area and a large Rosawa-planked sun deck,· with provision for emergency or alternate steering right aft.
The principal seating area was on the main deck adjoining the bar, lounge and dance floor.
The seating was of restaurant style rather than the more common bus-type arrangement.
This made it easier for passengers to move about and get to know each other.
The bar was very well-equipped, having a 10 cubic meter (35 cubic feet) bottle cooler, pre-mix cordial carbonating machines, a draught beer dispenser, an ice-maker and a fruit and cocktail mixer-dispenser.
The cargo hatch, with boat stowage and a substantial electric anchor winch by EMF Australia and a derrick for handling cargo and boats, was also on this deck.
A particular special feature was the beautifully fitted Rosawa planking following the’ ship’s sheer.
On the lower deck were quarters and facilities for the crew, toilets and showers for passengers, freezer, galley and store, fire-fighting, flooding controls.
In front of the crew accommodation was an 80 tonne cargo hold.
Watertight bulkheads separated the chain locker and hold, as well as the crew accommodation with the engine room and steering flat.
The engine room was also exceptionally well-equipped. A large sewage-waste-sullage tank was fitted together with all the pumping systems required for such a vessel.
Special care had been taken to avoid any possibility of environment pollution.
The Tui Tai had double bottom tanks and was able carry 16,000 gallons of fresh water to service the Beachcomber and Treasure Island resorts.
The double bottoms were also an additional safety feature.
All tanks were arranged so that if empty, they could be filled with salt water to increase stability if the ship ever had to ride out a hurricane.
https://www.fijitimes.com/back-in-history-second-largest-ship-built/
