The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has reiterated that no vessel may operate in Fijian waters without full regulatory compliance, a valid survey certificate and explicit clearance to sail, after recent public concerns about the safety of services on the Rotuma and Northern routes. In a fresh statement, the authority said it had inspected a specific vessel following repairs and cleared it to operate only until the end of the month, after which it will be taken up for slip for further work.
MSAF told the public any ship found with defects that compromise safety would be dealt with accordingly and rejected accusations that its enforcement is selective. The authority stressed that vessels must not put to sea unless they hold a current survey certificate and have been formally cleared — a clarification intended to counter confusion and public allegations about inconsistent oversight.
In the latest development, MSAF confirmed it carried out a post-repair inspection on the vessel at issue and granted a temporary operational approval. The authority said the vessel may continue services through the end of the month, but will be returned to dry dock ("taken up for slip") for additional checks and maintenance thereafter. MSAF also urged members of the public to rely on verified information from its official channels rather than social media or unofficial sources.
Interlink Shipping Services, the operator of the vessel, defended its safety record in a Facebook post and said safety remained central to its operations. The company said a minor mechanical issue had been identified and addressed immediately, that it notified relevant authorities, and arranged an emergency docking to carry out repairs.
According to Interlink, the ship was taken into the Suva IMEL dockyard on March 28 and remained there for three days while the fault was fixed. The firm confirmed the dry-dock work cost $75,000 and said the repairs resolved the problem that had prompted the inspection. Interlink added that it would not compromise safety and reassured customers that its vessels are maintained to required standards.
MSAF’s statement and Interlink’s clarification come amid heightened scrutiny of maritime safety following claims about vessel conditions on routes serving remote northern communities. The authority’s explicit reminder that no vessel may sail without a valid survey certificate tightens the public-facing position on enforcement and signals more formal oversight in response to community concerns. The approved-but-temporary clearance and the planned slip indicate further verification and maintenance will follow before the vessel receives longer-term certification.
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