Ship owners in Fiji who need to scuttle or dispose of their old, unused, or derelict vessels can now seek assistance from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
Scuttling, in maritime terms, refers to the safe and proper disposal of abandoned or derelict ships. Joweli Cawaki, the chief executive officer of MSAF, aims to tackle the issue of derelict vessels cluttering Fiji’s waters through these services.
“This facility is available for vessel owners looking to dispose of their old vessels that are no longer safe for operation,” Mr. Cawaki stated. He encouraged ship owners to submit a request for scuttling and pay the associated fees to MSAF.
Recently, MSAF pollution officers successfully facilitated the scuttling of a local vessel, the MV Uluinabukelevu, which was sunk 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Suva. Mr. Cawaki noted that the vessel was thoroughly inspected and cleaned before the scuttling process.
“The removal of oil and other debris was carried out before the sinking,” he explained. After submitting a request letter, ship owners must pay the scuttling fees. MSAF will provide a checklist for oil and debris removal to the owners.
Once the cleaning is completed, ship owners are required to report back to MSAF. “A pollution officer from MSAF will perform a final inspection to ensure the vessel is ready for scuttling,” Mr. Cawaki added. The officer will submit an inspection report to the Marine Safety Compliance Register (MSCR), which, along with the Aids to Navigation (AtoN) officer, will issue an approval letter that includes specific coordinates and depth. Ship owners must then provide a copy of this approval letter to Fiji Ports.
Mr. Cawaki mentioned that it is optional for ship owners to use a tugboat or another vessel for towing during the scuttling process. “A pollution officer from MSAF will accompany the ship to ensure it is sunk at the correct coordinates,” he said. After the scuttling, the officer will provide a final report confirming the completion of the process.