Two auxiliary ketches of about the same size are depleted on the 2d. stamp of Tonga. They are the Aoniu and the Hifofua. The Aoniu, owned by the Tonga copra Board, was built by Whippy Bros., Ltd., at Suva, Fiji Islands, in1948 and cost £39,986. On dimensions 76.3ft. x 22ft.x 9.6ft, her gross tonnage is 87.7, and for auxiliary power she is equipped with a Gardner marine diesel engine at 130 h.p. of the 8-cylinder type. The ketch has accommodation for 131 passengers, and is used to transport workmen to Nivafo'ou, and other Islands in the Tongan group, where copra is to be found. Her crew consists of 15 Tongans, under a New Zealand master, Capt. James C. McCormick, of Auckland, now resident in Tonga. The vessel's principal ports of call are Nuku'alofa. Ha'apai, Vava'u, Keppels and Nivafo'ou.
The Tonga Government despatch vessel Hifoua was built in 1927 by Bailey and Lowe, at Auckland, N.Z., and runs between Ha'apai, Vava'u and Nivatoputapu with occasional calls at Nivafo'ou. Her hull is constructed of 3-skin kauri wood, and she carries one jib, one staysail, a mainsail and mizzen. She has for auxiliary power a Gardner diesel engine of 125 h.p. of 6-cylinders, which was installed in the ship in 1947, and gives her a speed of 7.5 knots. There is accommodation for 180 passengers, and the vessel's gross tonnage is 108 tons on dimensions 87ft x 18ft x 8ft. and she is under the command of Capt. Carl Johnson.
Both ships are employed on inter-island work in the daytime only. An unwritten law which should never be overlooked, according to Capt. McCormick, is: "Always anchor for the night". Shallows and reefs make navigation dangerous at night-time in Tongan waters.
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