The Port of Suva is the capital and commercial center of the Pacific Ocean paradise of Fiji. The port is on the southeastern shores Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. The Port of Suva is a free port and an important tourist destination. In addition to tourism, the local economy relies on the port, light manufacturing, and government activities. In 2007, the city proper was home to more than 86 thousand people, and the urban area contained almost 220 thousand.

One of the South Pacific’s largest urban areas, the Port of Suva was founded in 1849. It became Fiji’s capital in 1882, and the Port of Suva received status as a city in 1952. Fiji lies at the center of the world’s busiest ocean-based transportation routes, and it is a regular stopping point for transpacific shipping.

Today, Fiji’s newspaper, publishers, and broadcasters are based in the Port of Suva. The city’s diverse population is reflected in the media’s use of three languages (Fijian, Hindi, and English). The Port of Suva is also home to educational institutions that serve much of the South Pacific region.

The Kings Wharf was first constructed in 1912, and it served Fiji for the next 50 years. In 1961, the old wooden wharf was replaced with concrete deck and piles and expanded with cargo sheds. The Suva Wharf handled containers and roll-on/roll-off traffic by the early 1970s.

As modern ships grew in size and cargo volume, the Port of Suva embarked on efforts to modernize and enhance port technologies and configurations in 1982. In the late 1990s, the port authority began plans for additional infrastructure improvements to keep pace with the evolving shipping industry. Upgrades of Kings Wharf were completed in 2005.

In 2003, the Port of Suva was host for the South Pacific Games for the third time. To support the games, the city created a new indoor sports center and gymnasium, a swimming pool, stadium, field hockey field and stands.

The Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPLC) owns and operates the Port of Suva and three other ports: Lautoka, Malau, and Vanau Levu. The FPCL is a government-owned commercial company. The Port of Suva is the largest and busiest container and general port in Fiji, and it is the country’s maritime gateway. The FPLC is responsible for managing and maintaining local wharves and property, developing and maintaining wharf infrastructure, overseeing marine services, and providing land-based services like cargo-handling yards, warehouses, and berths.

The Port of Suva contains five berth locations with a total of 845 meters of berthing space with alongside depths up to 12 meters. The container terminal offers storage capacity for 80 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo.

The Port of Suva is the heart of Fiji’s ports, and Fiji is a major crossroad for shipping between Australia, New Zealand, North America, and the South Pacific region.

The City of Suva is a diverse multi-racial city with a rich cultural heritage and atmosphere. Its residents include native Fijians, Indo-Fijians, Chinese, Europeans and mixed-Europeans, and people from other Pacific islands. English is the main language, although Fijian and Hindi are also common in both common speech and media.

The city has many tourist attractions, including many beautiful clean beaches. The city boasts many open spaces and parks, dependable transportation, public libraries, a wide range of restaurants and cafes, and a lively nightlife.

The Fiji Islands are a wonderful place to visit. They have a tropical climate with constant temperatures interrupted only by tropical cyclonic storms from November to January. Created by the growth of Pacific volcanoes, much of the interior of the islands is wilderness with a few roads and trails and many remote villages.

Fiji’s coral reefs were once a nightmare for European ships, but today they are a major attraction for tourists. When they became part of Great Britain’s empire, natives were converted to Christianity, tribal warfare ended, and laborers were imported from India. Modern Fiji is a paradise of tropical rainforests, wonderful beaches, and coconut plantations. It is largely free of the diseases, landmines, and terrorism that plague many similar places.

Internal politics in the past decades has reduced tourist volume, however, and many resort areas have lowered their prices to attract visitors. The capital of Fiji, unfortunately, Port of Suva is the focal point for political strife in the islands.

The Fiji Islands and the Port of Suva have a strong Christian moral culture. Shops and businesses will likely be closed on Sundays, and modest dress is recommended for those who leave the beaches. Both sexes should cover their shoulders and knees, particularly in more remote areas and at churches. Because the islanders consider the head as sacred, it is important never to touch a Fijian’s head with hand or object.

Travelers who want to visit the Port of Suva and the Fiji Islands by sea can find a list of scheduled cruises at the Cruise Compete website.