The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) is expected to issue a statement after an apparent stand-off at Ellington Jetty disrupted passenger services and prompted urgent discussions between maritime authorities and operators. FBC News has been reliably informed that talks are under way to resolve the situation, which Interlink Shipping says began affecting its operations “since yesterday” when another vessel allegedly blocked access to the jetty.
Interlink Shipping alleges the vessel LP 9, operated by Goundar Shipping Services Limited, has been obstructing berthing access at Ellington Jetty and preventing other vessels from coming alongside. The company says the obstruction breaches provisions of the Coastal Trading License that require operators to avoid interfering with the use of public maritime facilities. Interlink also reported that passengers have experienced delays and inconvenience, and raised safety concerns resulting from the restricted access.
Interlink is calling on MSAF to take immediate action to restore normal operations. Its demands include urgent enforcement of fixed timetables and berth allocations, stricter compliance checks to ensure operators meet licensing conditions, and an overall resolution to prevent similar disruptions affecting passenger movements. The company told FBC News the impacts extend beyond schedule slippage to perceived safety risks for those attempting to embark and disembark.
Goundar Shipping has publicly rejected Interlink’s account in a social media notice, describing reports as “inaccurate or unverified.” The company pointed to what it said was an approved shipping schedule that all operators are required to follow, and questioned why that schedule was not being observed. Goundar also urged MSAF to accept responsibility for decisions on vessel clearances, asserting that clearances were granted even when there were known scheduling conflicts—an argument that shifts scrutiny back to the regulator’s operational oversight.
MSAF has not yet issued a formal response but is expected to comment as the inter-agency discussions continue. The agency’s role in licensing, berth allocation and issuing clearances is central to the dispute: Interlink’s complaint frames the problem as non-compliance by another operator, while Goundar contends the regulator’s clearance process allowed the conflict to arise. The forthcoming MSAF statement is the latest development and will be watched for any immediate enforcement measures or directions to operators.
The incident highlights the potential for local scheduling and berth-management disputes to have immediate, tangible effects on passengers who rely on regular maritime services. If unresolved, the disagreement could prompt further regulatory scrutiny of how clearances and timetables are coordinated among licence-holders using public jetty infrastructure. For now, passengers face delays tied to the blockade allegations, operators are trading blame, and authorities are under pressure to intervene to restore safe and predictable access to Ellington Jetty.
Leave a comment