Latest news with #GoundarShipping
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Fiji govt says shipping company violated maritime and environment obligations
Photo: Supplied A Fijian government says one of the country's main inter-island shipping providers has violated several maritime safety and environmental obligations. Earlier this month, Goundar Shipping's vessel Lomaiviti Princess II capsized after being towed out of Suva Harbour by the Fiji Ports Authority and has since spilled oil. In a statement, the Joint Maritime Environment Committee said the that the ship had been non-operational since 2019, and Goundar Shipping should have removed and defuelled the vessel. It said the company has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in managing its vessel to prevent harm to the marine environment and other port users, which they breached. Minister for Enviroment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu said there are no exemptions when it comes to environmental protection. "We will not allow Fiji's ports and waters to become dumping grounds." The committee statement said Fiji Ports undertook the relocation of the Lomaiviti Princess II after Goundar Shipping failed to act on the removal orders issued . This was done under the authority of regulation 78 of the Sea Ports Management Regulations 2008. RNZ Pacific has reached out to Goundar Shipping for comment. The company's director has previously declined several times to comment on this matter. The Climate Change Ministry also established Goundar Shipping does not hold a valid waste disposal permit for any of its vessels, the statement said. "It must also be made clear that should GSL argue that they were not aware of their waste disposal permit obligations under EMA 2005, that Section 37 would apply, whereby any damage caused to the environment through discharge of waste or pollutant from the facility, activity or undertaking, the body corporate is liable for remedial actions," the statement said. The committee said Fiji Ports has been "actively pursuing recovery efforts to prevent further spillage". It said Fiji Ports has also commenced discussions with three potential service providers for underwater inspection and removal of any oil/sludge inside the vessel. This process will take approximately four to eight weeks Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau has directed that a thorough maritime investigation be conducted into the incident to ascertain the cause of the incident, determine responsibility, and identify any gaps in standard operating procedures.
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Fiji maritime committee says shipping company violated maritime and environment regs
Photo: Supplied A Fijian government says one of the country's main inter-island shipping providers has violated several maritime safety and environmental obligations. Earlier this month, Goundar Shipping's vessel Lomaiviti Princess II capsized after being towed out of Suva Harbour by the Fiji Ports Authority and has since spilled oil. In a statement, the Joint Maritime Environment Committee said the that the ship had been non-operational since 2019, and Goundar Shipping should have removed and defuelled the vessel. It said the company has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in managing its vessel to prevent harm to the marine environment and other port users, which they breached. Minister for Enviroment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu said there are no exemptions when it comes to environmental protection. "We will not allow Fiji's ports and waters to become dumping grounds." The committee statement said Fiji Ports undertook the relocation of the Lomaiviti Princess II after Goundar Shipping failed to act on the removal orders issued . This was done under the authority of regulation 78 of the Sea Ports Management Regulations 2008. RNZ Pacific has reached out to Goundar Shipping for comment. The company's director has previously declined several times to comment on this matter. The Climate Change Ministry also established Goundar Shipping does not hold a valid waste disposal permit for any of its vessels, the statement said. "It must also be made clear that should GSL argue that they were not aware of their waste disposal permit obligations under EMA 2005, that Section 37 would apply, whereby any damage caused to the environment through discharge of waste or pollutant from the facility, activity or undertaking, the body corporate is liable for remedial actions," the statement said. The committee said Fiji Ports has been "actively pursuing recovery efforts to prevent further spillage". It said Fiji Ports has also commenced discussions with three potential service providers for underwater inspection and removal of any oil/sludge inside the vessel. This process will take approximately four to eight weeks Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau has directed that a thorough maritime investigation be conducted into the incident to ascertain the cause of the incident, determine responsibility, and identify any gaps in standard operating procedures.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Investigation ordered after boat capsize in Suva Harbour
Photo: Fiji Government/Facebook Fiji's Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport has visited the wreck of the Lomaiviti Princess II and other derelict vessels within Suva Harbour. Ro Filipe Tuisawau said he had expressed his disappointment over the incident and ordered a full investigation. In a statement earlier this week, the Government said it was actively undertaking all necessary measures to contain the oil spill and mitigate any environmental damage. "Oil containment booms have been deployed around the vessel to prevent the spread of oil. Oil dispersants are also applied to minimise damage and reduce harm to the surrounding marine ecosystem," it said. "The next steps in the response operation include plans to refloat and reposition the LP II to clear the navigation channel, followed by the removal of the wreck." The CEO of Maritime Safety Authority Fiji told RNZ Pacific the vessel "went down" after being towed out of Narain Jetty in Suva by Fiji Ports. Goundar Shipping managing director George Goundar referred RNZ Pacific's request for comment to Fiji Ports. RNZ Pacific has reached out to Fiji Ports for comment. Minister Tuisawau emphasised the importance of protecting Suva's marine and cultural heritage. Photo: Fiji Government/Facebook "We must ensure that we safeguard the Suva Harbour and peninsula at all times. This land and maritime area was entrusted by the Vanua of Navukavu, Na Turaga Rokobaleni, and the Vanua of Nadonumai and Tui Suva of Rewa Province for the benefit of the nation." He said Cabinet had approved a legislative review on the matter. The government statement said the Joint Maritime Environment Protection Committee has been working to address the growing concern of derelict and abandoned vessels in Fiji's ports and harbours. "Derelict ships continue to be removed and disposed off. The process of coordination of stakeholder collaboration, JMEC identification of priority wrecks and initiation of legal and operational processes to support removal continues."
Scoop
05-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Removal Notice Issued For Fiji Vessel Which Capsized
'Ports came in with a tug and pulled the vessel out; once the vessel was pulled out, it went down.'The CEO of Maritime Safety Authority Fiji says the vessel Lomaiviti Princess II 'went down' after being towed out of Narain Jetty in Suva by Fiji Ports. Joweli Cawaki said Lomaiviti Princess II was unmanned when it capsized at about 4pm on Monday and nobody was injured. 'The boat just tilted to one side and took in water and it went down,' Cawaki said. The vessel had been tied up at Narain Jetty since 2019. The Fiji Ports – which runs the jetty – served Goundar Shipping which owns Lomaiviti II a removal notice. 'Ports came in with a tug and pulled the vessel out; once the vessel was pulled out, it went down,' Cawaki said. 'It was a risk in all senses of the word risk – it took up space at the wharf and it's been used as Goundar Shipping as a dumping ground and now that it has sunk, it has sunk where there is a channel.' He said other vessels could hit Lomaiviti Princess II. It is sitting in just under two metres of water. Cawaki said a boom used to contain oil spills is around the ship and people are watching at all times for any oil leaks. 'According to Goundar Shipping there's not much in the inside of the vessel, in terms of the chemicals and the oil.' He said the ship could be salvaged by pumping out the water and blocking the holes. Cawaki said a meeting today would decide what would be done with the vessel. On May 26, passenger ferry Lomaiviti Princess VII ran aground in Ono-i-Lau, and it was towed back to shore by Lomaiviti Princess XII which also took the stranded passengers.
Scoop
05-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Removal Notice Issued For Fiji Vessel Which Capsized
The CEO of Maritime Safety Authority Fiji says the vessel Lomaiviti Princess II "went down" after being towed out of Narain Jetty in Suva by Fiji Ports. Joweli Cawaki said Lomaiviti Princess II was unmanned when it capsized at about 4pm on Monday and nobody was injured. "The boat just tilted to one side and took in water and it went down," Cawaki said. The vessel had been tied up at Narain Jetty since 2019. The Fiji Ports - which runs the jetty - served Goundar Shipping which owns Lomaiviti II a removal notice. "Ports came in with a tug and pulled the vessel out; once the vessel was pulled out, it went down," Cawaki said. "It was a risk in all senses of the word risk - it took up space at the wharf and it's been used as Goundar Shipping as a dumping ground and now that it has sunk, it has sunk where there is a channel." He said other vessels could hit Lomaiviti Princess II. It is sitting in just under two metres of water. Cawaki said a boom used to contain oil spills is around the ship and people are watching at all times for any oil leaks. "According to Goundar Shipping there's not much in the inside of the vessel, in terms of the chemicals and the oil." He said the ship could be salvaged by pumping out the water and blocking the holes. Cawaki said a meeting today would decide what would be done with the vessel. On May 26, passenger ferry Lomaiviti Princess VII ran aground in Ono-i-Lau, and it was towed back to shore by Lomaiviti Princess XII which also took the stranded passengers.
