Two crew members from Goundar Shipping Limited have been terminated after showing up for duty while under the influence of alcohol. This action highlights the growing issue of substance abuse among maritime workers, a concern that has been raised by the company’s Managing Director, George Goundar. He described this problem as one of the foremost safety challenges faced by domestic vessel operators in Fiji.
During a recent submission to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Goundar expressed serious concerns regarding the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse among crew members. He urged for stronger enforcement tools and clearer legal protections for shipowners within the framework of the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill 2025. Goundar illustrated the risks associated with this behavior, noting that there have been instances where crew members were discovered dangerously intoxicated shortly after their vessels docked, while others were so impaired that they required physical intervention to be awakened.
This alarming situation, according to Goundar, endangers not only the crew but also passengers, cargo, and coastal communities. Given Fiji’s dependence on maritime transport for inter-island connectivity, the potential consequences of such negligence become even more dire. He remarked on specific incidents where intoxicated senior crew members were allowed to board vessels despite their unfitness for duty, raising serious concerns about safety standards in the industry.
“It’s a brotherhood in seamanship, but the public doesn’t understand that. Sometimes I’m scared to sleep at night, not knowing when I’ll get a phone call at two or three in the morning telling me my vessel is on the reef,” he stated, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
In acknowledgment of these issues, a representative from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) responded to the committee, stating that while local adaptations of international standards like the Maritime Labour Convention are still in the draft stage, Fiji has implemented various safety protocols, such as hours-of-rest regulations and standards through domesticated maritime laws, including the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping framework.
The ongoing dialogue among industry stakeholders emphasizes the need for more robust measures to address substance abuse in the maritime sector, safeguarding both crew and community safety as the nation relies heavily on maritime operations.
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