An Australian salvage expert has taken charge of recovery operations after the passenger vessel MV Fiji Princess ran aground on a reef near Monuriki Island, as authorities worked to minimise environmental damage and plan a careful refloat of the ship.
The 55-metre vessel, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, went aground on Saturday after what is believed to have been a sudden squall that caused its anchor to drag. All 30 passengers aboard were evacuated safely early on Sunday morning by ferry and transported to Denarau Island, with no reports of injuries.
The salvage specialist arrived on site on Sunday and has been overseeing technical recovery work and a condition assessment of the grounded vessel. Maritime officials said the initial priority was to remove fuel and other polluting liquids to reduce the risk to the surrounding reef system. Blue Lagoon Cruises confirmed that by Monday all pumpable fuel and onboard oils had been extracted, a step authorities described as critical to lowering the immediate environmental threat.
While the removal of fuel significantly reduces the risk of a spill, the Fiji Princess remains lodged on the reef as teams assess structural damage and reef impacts. Salvage crews are evaluating the vessel’s condition and planning the safest means of refloating, with officials saying the chosen method will be guided by prevailing weather conditions and the need to protect fragile reef habitat.
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and other agencies have been monitoring the operation; authorities emphasised that caution is necessary to avoid further harm to the reef while attempting to free the vessel. No timetable has been set for refloating attempts, with salvage teams noting that suitable weather windows and detailed assessments of both the ship and the reef will determine when and how the work proceeds.
This latest development follows the rapid evacuation and pollution-prevention measures taken over the weekend. With fuel now removed and an overseas salvage expert directing recovery efforts, focus has shifted to environmental protection and the technical challenge of getting the Fiji Princess off the reef without causing additional damage. Further updates are expected as assessments continue and salvage plans are finalised.
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