Seven more derelict vessels have been removed from Fiji’s waters, with six returned to service and one deliberately sunk, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change confirmed on Wednesday. Permanent Secretary Dr Sivendra Michael told reporters the removal is the latest phase in a program aimed at clearing abandoned and unsafe craft from coastal areas and improving maritime safety.
Dr Michael said the six vessels, identified as Chinese-flagged, were restored to operation and have since departed Fiji. The seventh vessel, the Winstar, was scuttled last week in a coordinated operation led by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) together with the Ministry, he said. He added that in 2025 a total of 13 derelict vessels have now been removed from national waters, with the majority disposed of through controlled scuttling.
Officials say the effort will now scale up. “The next phase of the programme will focus on removing 17 additional vessels in the next six months,” Dr Michael announced, setting a clear timetable for further clearances. The ministry is pursuing a combined approach of restoration where feasible and safe scuttling or removal in other cases to reduce hazards to navigation, protect marine environments and tidy up anchorages used by local fishing and commercial operators.
Funding and contracting arrangements have been a critical constraint for the operation to date. Dr Michael confirmed $US1 million (about $F2.2 million) in philanthropic support has been channelled directly to Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd (FPCL) to accelerate removals and related work. “FPCL has two contractors that have been vetted. They are awaiting a board decision so the contractors will be paid, and the vessels should be removed in the next six months,” he said, indicating the money will be used to pay vetted service providers to undertake salvage, repairs or disposal work.
Legislative change is also part of the package. Dr Michael said amendments to existing maritime and waste laws are underway to better manage vessel operations and abandoned craft. He noted the draft legislation on daily vessels is currently with Fiji Ports and MSAF for consideration and that part of the $1 million package is intended to support legal reforms. In a related move to address land‑based hazards, the ministry plans to amend the Litter’s Act to classify abandoned cars as “dangerous litter,” a change officials say will close another gap in national waste management and public safety laws.
The ministry’s update comes after months of attention on derelict vessels, which authorities and environmental groups have warned can become navigational hazards, sources of marine pollution, and eyesores that affect tourism and coastal communities. Authorities have emphasised restoration and rehoming where possible as a cost‑effective alternative to scuttling, while maintaining that any sinking operations will follow MSAF guidelines to minimise environmental impact.
With funding now in place and contractors vetted, the government says removal activity will intensify over the coming months. If the planned removal of 17 additional vessels proceeds as scheduled, officials say Fiji should see a marked reduction in abandoned craft cluttering key coastal areas and harbours, with tighter regulation intended to prevent recurrence.
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