The court martial for naval officers involved in the running aground of the Republic of Fiji Naval Ship (RFNS) Kiro will be decided by the Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF) Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto.

Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Commander Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake confirmed that the Board of Inquiry’s completed report was now with the RFMF Commander.

No comment on the Court Martial could be obtained from the RFMF Commander as he is currently in Canada attending the Indo-Asia Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference at Victoria, British Columbia.

Captain Tawake said all those involved were working and are awaiting disciplinary action.

The Minister for Defence and National Security had confirmed that the Republic of Fiji naval ship Kiro would not be salvaged.

RFNS Kiro had ran aground on Cakauyawa Reef near Nukulau Island last year.

Meanwhile, the navy headquarters at Stanley Brown Naval Base will be relocated to the Togalevu Naval Base, Captain Tawake has confirmed.

The Togalevu base is currently used for naval training.

Speaking on the surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) he said they were carrying out the task with the assistance of Australia and New Zealand.

Captain Tawake has just returned from the Coast Guard Global Summit in Tokyo, Japan.

The summit addressed common maritime security issues on safety and security, disaster management, climate change, resources sustainable management, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, oceans preservation and piracy.

Prior to Tokyo, he was in Cairns, Australia for the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 2017 addressing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) enforcement.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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