Shipowners in need of scuttling services or disposal options for their old, unused, or derelict vessels can now seek assistance from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
Scuttling, in maritime terminology, refers to the proper and safe removal of abandoned or derelict ships. With the increasing number of derelict vessels cluttering Fiji’s waters, MSAF chief executive officer Joweli Cawaki aims for this service to alleviate the issue.
“This facility is available to vessel owners who wish to dispose of their old ships that are no longer safe for operation,” Mr. Cawaki stated. He urged shipowners to submit a request letter for scuttling and pay the required fees to MSAF.
Recently, MSAF pollution officers performed a scuttling operation for the local vessel MV Uluinabukelevu, which was sunk 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Suva. Mr. Cawaki noted that this vessel underwent inspection and cleaning prior to being submerged.
“Oil and other debris were removed before it was sunk,” he explained. Shipowners must submit a request letter for scuttling, after which they will need to pay the associated fees. MSAF will provide a checklist for the removal of contaminants to the ship owner.
Shipowners are required to report back to MSAF once the cleaning of their vessels is complete. “An MSAF pollution officer will conduct a final check to ensure the ship is ready for scuttling and will submit an inspection report to the Marine Safety Compliance Register (MSCR). The MSCR and Aids to Navigation (AtoN) officer will issue an approval letter for scuttling, including coordinates and depth. The ship owner must then submit a copy of this approval letter to Fiji Ports,” Mr. Cawaki added.
Shipowners may opt to use a tugboat or another vessel for towing their ship to the scuttling site. “An MSAF pollution officer will accompany the ship to confirm that it is scuttled at the designated coordinates. After the scuttling, the officer will provide a final report confirming the vessel has been effectively scuttled.”