The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) says a fuel transfer operation from the grounded MV Fiji Princess was completed on April 4, with 23,000 litres of fuel safely removed from the vessel at Monuriki Island off Malolo. The authority described the removal as a critical step to reduce the risk of pollution after the ferry went aground with passengers and crew aboard over the weekend.
MSAF confirmed a salvage support vessel departed the site after the transfer was finished, but that its oil-spill response booms remained with the support vessel as a precautionary measure. The authority said officers continued to monitor the area and maintain on-scene containment equipment while further assessments are carried out, underscoring that environmental protection remains a priority.
At the time of the grounding on Saturday, April 4, the Fiji Princess was carrying 30 passengers and 31 crew members. All passengers were evacuated safely and returned to Port Denarau, and crew members were transferred to the vessel’s sister ship, Cougar, which then departed the area bound for Port Denarau, MSAF reported. No fuel leaks have been reported following the transfer operation.
Preliminary inspections revealed significant structural damage to the vessel’s rear port side, including the steering compartment, and noted that sections of the hull beneath the vessel were impacted. MSAF said rough seas and strong swells initially prevented officers from conducting an immediate underwater inspection, delaying a full assessment of the damage and any potential submerged hull breaches.
The fuel removal operation was supported by a specialist salvage team from Australia, which assisted in coordinating the transfer under difficult sea conditions. MSAF said it would only proceed with further recovery and salvage work once weather and sea conditions improve sufficiently to allow safe underwater inspections and stabilisation operations.
This update follows earlier reports of the grounding and evacuation. The completion of the 23,000-litre fuel transfer represents the latest development in the response, moving authorities from immediate crew and passenger safety efforts to a containment and environmental protection phase. MSAF reiterated that its priorities remain the safety of personnel, the protection of Fiji’s marine environment and the continuation of response efforts under safe conditions, and pledged to provide further updates as recovery work resumes.
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