Ship owners in need of scuttling services or the disposal of old, unused, or derelict vessels can now request assistance from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
Scuttling, in maritime terms, refers to the proper and safe disposal of abandoned or derelict vessels. With an increase in derelict sailing vessels cluttering Fiji’s waters, MSAF’s chief executive officer, Joweli Cawaki, hopes these scuttling services will address the issue.
“This facility is available for vessel owners who wish to dispose of their old, non-operational boats,” Mr. Cawaki stated. He encouraged ship owners to submit a request letter for scuttling and to arrange payment for the services with MSAF.
Recently, MSAF pollution officers successfully conducted a scuttling operation for a local ship, the MV Uluinabukelevu, which was sunk 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Suva. Prior to sinking, the vessel underwent inspection and cleaning to remove oil and other debris.
“After submitting a scuttling request to MSAF, the ship owner must pay the scuttling fees. MSAF will then provide a checklist for oil and debris removal to the ship owner,” Mr. Cawaki explained. He emphasized the importance of reporting back to MSAF once cleaning operations on the vessel have been completed.
“An MSAF pollution officer will carry out a final inspection to ensure the ship is ready for scuttling, and an inspection report will be submitted to MSCR. The MSCR and AtoN officer will issue an approval letter for scuttling, including coordinates and depth. The ship owner must then provide a copy of the approval letter to Fiji Ports,” he added.
Mr. Cawaki noted that it is optional for ship owners to employ a tugboat or another vessel for towing during the scuttling process. “An MSAF pollution officer will accompany the ship to ensure it is scuttled at the designated coordinates. Following the scuttling, the officer will submit a final report confirming the vessel has been properly scuttled.”