The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has identified significant operational issues within Suva’s shipping vessels, particularly concerning Goundar Shipping Limited. These findings emerged after a meeting between MSAF and various local shipping companies at Walu Bay in Suva to address these pressing matters.
One of the major concerns highlighted by MSAF’s Chief Executive Officer, Joweli Cawaki, is the revealed instances of abuse of office among certain staff at Goundar Shipping. It was reported that some employees were secretly selling tickets to relatives and misappropriating the payments. This has contributed to the overloading of passengers during boarding times, a situation MSAF is actively trying to rectify.
Mr. Cawaki acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining trustworthiness among staff, saying, “It’s really hard to keep people who are trustworthy with money.” He also pointed out that some responsibility lies with the public’s behavior. Complications arise when passengers miss their scheduled trips and reschedule, which leads to extended waiting lists for seats.
Despite public frustration with MSAF for seizing boats due to overcapacity, Mr. Cawaki emphasized that the authority’s priority is ensuring safety on vessels. To mitigate overcrowding, plans are in motion to have an additional ship on standby for routes that frequently face passenger surges. For example, if the route from Suva to Gau and Koro experiences overloading, passengers will be off-loaded to make room for additional travelers.
Moving forward, MSAF is committed to enforcing compliance with maritime travel regulations among shipping companies to enhance safety and reliability in Fiji’s maritime operations.
This proactive approach by MSAF not only holds shipping companies accountable but also aims to restore public trust in maritime safety. The commitment to improve operational conditions reflects a determination to safeguard the wellbeing of passengers, ensuring a more secure travel experience in the future.
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