The drifting of two ships from Suva Harbour to Mosquito Island have been attributed to strong winds affecting the region in recent weeks.
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji CEO Joeli Cawaki said the ship owners must take responsibility for the safety of their vessels.
“Yes, we have a team now working, a joint committee between MSAF and Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd (FPCL), through which we are focusing on assessing all vessels in the harbour,” Mr Cawaki said.
“We’ll start from Suva Harbour and then go down to the West and then the rest of Fiji.”
Mr Cawaki said the agency was in contact with ship owners and their agents to facilitate the removal of these vessels.
“And if the owners don’t do it, the letter’s been sent to them, it will come to us to remove them.”
A meeting is scheduled for next week between MSAF and FPCL to further address the issue of vessels cluttering the harbour.
“You remember the last two or three weeks, Suva’s weather was not good. The wind picked up and also the rain, that moved the vessels. And we are working on that.”
Mr Cawaki reiterated the importance of collaboration with vessel owners, saying that while the cost of removal may be substantial, the responsibility ultimately was theirs.
Strong winds blamed for drifting ships in harbour
