Interlink Shipping has apologised after passengers aboard its Northern Star ferry were forced to disembark by dinghy into rough seas at Ellington Jetty in Rakiraki this afternoon, following lengthy delays when the vessel could not berth. The company said the Northern Star had sailed from Nabouwalu at about 9am and arrived off Rakiraki at about midday, but was unable to dock and passengers waited onboard for hours before being transferred by small boat.
In a public statement, Interlink alleged the Goundar Shipping vessel Lomaiviti Princess 9 (LP9) has been occupying Ellington Jetty since March 28 and was blocking access for other operators when Northern Star arrived. The shipping company described the episode as a safety risk and said the situation amounted to an alleged breach of the Maritime Transport Act provisions that govern the use of public jetties.
“This is not just about one company — it is about protecting the rights of passengers, ensuring safety at sea, and upholding the integrity of Fiji’s maritime industry,” Interlink said in its statement, urging authorities to address the matter. The company apologised to affected passengers and said it remained committed to providing safe and reliable services.
Interlink also said it made repeated attempts to seek intervention from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji but that those efforts were unsuccessful. The operator told reporters it considered the continued occupation of a public jetty by a single vessel to pose hazards to passenger transfers and to the efficient operation of scheduled services.
The incident highlights growing tensions over access to public jetties, where limited berthing space can disrupt timetables and force transfers into open water. Disembarking by dinghy in rough seas raises obvious safety concerns, especially when passengers have been waiting onboard for extended periods; Interlink framed the episode as emblematic of broader regulatory and enforcement gaps in managing shared marine infrastructure.
Requests for comment from Goundar Shipping were not immediately returned. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji has not yet issued a public response to Interlink’s allegations. Interlink has called on authorities to take action to prevent a repeat of the situation and to ensure compliance with rules intended to protect passengers and other vessel operators.
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