134 stranded passengers of the MV Spirit of Altruism are currently being transferred to the MV Spirit of Harmony by fibreglass boats.

The MV Spirit of Altruism which belongs to Patterson Brothers Seaboard Shipping Company Limited hit a reef earlier this morning and has been stuck just past Levuka since.

The spokesperson for Patterson Shipping David Patterson had said  they were waiting for launches to transfer people to the boats which will take them to the MV Spirit of Harmony.

8 vehicles are also on board the ship.

Patterson says MV Spirit of Altruism is on top of the Cakau Davui Reef and is in a stable condition.

He says the ship had engine problems and drifted to the reef.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Dass who is with family on board the ship says the passengers were furious throughout the time they were stranded as it took almost 6 hours for them to start with the transfer.

Earlier this morning, Bua College Principal Raman Lal who is on board the vessel said they have been issued life jackets and that they have been told by the Captain that a ship is coming from Nabouwalu to rescue them.

The ship left Natovi at 7.30am today for Nabouwalu.

The National Disaster Management Director, Anare Leweniqila says the incident had nothing to do with the weather as the ship had an engine fault.