The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has cleared the Interlink Shipping vessel Ohana to resume operations after inspecting repairs that addressed safety concerns raised by social media footage showing a leak being patched while the ship was en route to Rotuma. MSAF said the vessel meets the authority’s safety requirements and has been authorised to operate until the end of the month, after which it will be taken into slip for further work.
MSAF reiterated that no vessel is permitted to sail without a valid Survey Certificate and Clearance to Sail, and said its approval followed an inspection of the recent repairs. “Following inspection of repairs carried out, it was approved to operate… after which it will be taken up for slip,” the authority said. The statement was issued as part of a broader effort to reassure communities on the Rotuma and Northern routes that maritime safety standards are being enforced.
The authority also pushed back against claims of selective enforcement, calling such suggestions “categorically refuted.” MSAF emphasised its commitment to ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew and said its decisions are based on inspections and regulatory requirements rather than external pressure.
Interlink Shipping said the problem was a minor issue that was identified and addressed promptly. The company said Ohana was immediately docked for three days while repairs were carried out and that MSAF subsequently cleared the vessel to sail. In a written statement, Interlink stressed that safety remains its top priority and that it would not compromise on measures designed to protect passengers and crew.
The clearance comes after video clips circulated online showing crew repairing a leak aboard Ohana as the vessel headed north, prompting public concern and questions about whether it should have been allowed to continue. The MSAF inspection and temporary approval are intended to provide assurance while more extensive maintenance is scheduled.
The Ohana has also been under heightened scrutiny in recent weeks after MSAF launched an inquiry into a passenger death aboard the vessel at Suva Wharf earlier this month. That separate investigation — into medical circumstances surrounding the incident — has drawn attention to the vessel and to safety oversight more broadly. MSAF’s latest statements appear aimed at distinguishing routine operational safety checks from the ongoing inquiry into the earlier fatality.
Communities depending on the Rotuma and Northern services will now be watching for the planned slip period at the end of the month, when Ohana is to be hauled for further inspection and repairs. MSAF and Interlink have both said they will continue to monitor the vessel’s condition and enforce any further remedial action required under Fiji’s maritime safety regulations.
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