The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has reported a total of 94 maritime incidents from 2021 to the present. In a recent address to Parliament, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, detailed the figures: 31 incidents occurred in 2021, 10 in 2022, 34 in 2023, and 19 incidents so far this year.
Minister Tuisawau noted that these incidents encompassed vessel groundings, collisions, equipment failures, and violations of maritime safety regulations. He highlighted that 80 percent of these incidents were classified as major, with 10 percent resulting in fatalities and 1 percent leading to serious injuries. The remaining incidents were deemed minor, with no significant adverse effects on life or property.
The primary causes of these incidents have been identified as human error, adverse weather conditions, and poor vessel maintenance. Tuisawau cited specific examples such as a vessel that drifted out to sea due to a power failure on December 21, 2023. MSAF mandated the offloading of passengers onto alternative routes, a process that was successfully carried out.
He also mentioned that another vessel experienced difficulties due to air conditioning issues, which were resolved, allowing it to resume operation. Additionally, a vessel was detained due to a malfunctioning ramp until repairs were made, and another incident on March 9, 2024, involved a vessel losing power and requiring towing to Suva; this vessel remains detained pending compliance checks.
Minister Tuisawau assured that MSAF is increasing its investigations into compliance and safety measures.