Savusavu : Profile

Location

Savusavu, located on Vanua Levu Island, 110 miles upwind of the capital Suva, is well located for clearance for yachts wishing to cruise in the east of the archipelago after clearance. GPS coordinates for Savusavu pass: 16.49.866 S, 179.15.779 E.

Clearance

Contact any of the mooring concessions on Channel 16 and they will call the relevant officials. Waitui Marina will also assist with clearance if you choose to simply anchor, at a charge of $10.00. Cruisers warn that it is advisable to clear in immediately here, rather than stop somewhere first and risk substantial fines.

Boats are visited first by a quarantine officer then by Customs/immigration (office is located opposite Waitui Marina). Arrivals on a weekend or a holiday must pay a clearance fee of F$170. There is also overtime for arrivals after 1600 as well as the usual clearance fee.

A cruising permit is necessary to visit other places in Fiji and one should apply for it as soon as one arrives. This can be done at Curly's Bosun Locker, Waitui or Copra Shed. It will take 1 to 4 working days and costs F$5.

A visit to one specific anchorage in the Lau Group can also be arranged. If you want to cruise the entire Lau Group an application must be approved by the Lau Provincial Council in Suva. The situation re. permits and fees changes almost daily so it is advisable to contact one of the mooring concessions on the current Lau permit status.

Last updated January 2010.

Docking

There are presently three mooring concessions in Nakama Creek, of which two have facilities: Waitui Marina and Copra Shed both have laid a number of moorings, Waitui moorings are orange, those of Copra Shed are white. These concessions have facilities. Curly's moorings are yellow. Make sure you pay your mooring fees to the correct owner! The moorings at Waitui are Helix and hence cyclone proof. The creek is a cyclone shelter.

There is a new marina - Savusavu Marina - east of the two facilities above. The marina currently has 16 berths with power and water, deep water and is enclosed by a reef sea wall.

All yachts are welcome to use the Copra Shed Marina dinghy pontoon as a means of access to the business premises within the Copra Shed building. Those who are not on a Copra Shed mooring and who wish to use the dinghy pontoon solely as a means of getting into town or to do personal errands outside of the Copra Shed building, are required to pay a fee of $1.00 per day. Waitui does not charge for the use of their dock.

Last updated May 2011.

Copra Shed Marina
P O Box 262, Savusavu
Tel:(679) 885 0457, Fax:(679) 850 344, VHF Channel 16
coprashedmarina@connect.com.fj
Moorings and stern-to berths, showers, fuel and water. Restaurant, chandlery, dive shop and apartments.

Savusavu Marina Village
Valeci, Savusavu
Tel:(679) 8853 543, Fax:(679) 8853 422
savumari@connect.com.fj
Currently there are 8 alongside berths which will shortly be changed to 16 stern-to berths. There is power and water on the dock plus showers and toilets. There is 4m at the dock at LW.
The marina has a fully equipped workshop, however the Haul Out and Boatyard have been delayed until 2012.

Waitui Marina
P.O. Box 465, Savusavu
Tel:(679) 885-3031 / (679) 997-2558, Fax:(679) 885-3031, VHF Channel 16
http://waituimarina.bebi-electronics.com, sales@bebi-electronics.com
As of June 2007, Bebi Electronics Ltd. became the managers for the moorings at Waitui Marina. They are the contact point for incoming yachts as well as being the SSCA official Cruising Station for Savusavu. Moorings, showers, laundry, garbage disposal, water, help with clearance, upstairs bar, book swap, free dinghy dock.