The Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, has initiated a comprehensive review of the vessel procurement processes in Fiji following concerns that a newly arrived vessel was not assessed by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). The minister highlighted that MSAF only received notification of the vessel’s arrival at 4 PM on December 31, despite it having departed from South Korea on December 19.

Ro Filipe explained that MSAF was meant to send a team to Korea for the customary technical verification and physical survey; however, political instability in the region impeded travel plans. Expressing dissatisfaction with the current operational processes, he emphasized the need for his team to adopt a more innovative and proactive approach.

He underscored that vessel operators should ideally refrain from purchasing vessels without securing MSAF’s clearance beforehand. To improve coordination, he recommended that clearance procedures be established prior to the vessels’ departure from their ports of origin.

While MSAF has been instructed to conduct technical evaluations and collaborate with the vessel’s owner to address any discrepancies before issuing a license, the minister also mentioned that MSAF would consult on environmental and other issues. Furthermore, MSAF will coordinate with vessel owners and Fiji Ports to eliminate unserviceable vessels and review its acquisition regulations.

The transport sector, including maritime services, is expected to undergo significant scrutiny as the ministry finalizes the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a broader examination of the transport industry in the near future.

This proactive stance by the Minister is a commendable effort toward ensuring safer and more regulated maritime operations in Fiji. By addressing these critical issues, the ministry aims to enhance the overall effectiveness of maritime services, which play an essential role in the nation’s transport infrastructure. Such measures can ultimately lead to improved safety standards and the sustainability of maritime operations in the region.