The re-investigation of the sunken MV Southern Phoenix is expected to be concluded in the next four weeks, as alluded by the acting Minister responsible at Parliament last Friday.

Acting Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport Aiyaz Saiyed-Khaiyum said there was a process to follow in terms of the re-investigation and it was near completion.

Minister Saiyed-Khaiyum said reconduct interview with relevant stakeholders were currently in pro­cess.

“The investigations to the sunken of the vessel have already been conducted. Then you have the in­vestigation proper which includes the collation of all ship documents and all relevant documents which has been completed,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“Interviews with all those in­volved in the incident has being completed, analysis of the inter­view script and all relevant docu­ments which has being completed, re-conduct interviews of contradic­tory statements, this is now cur­rently in process,” he said.

“Following that will be the prepa­rations for the investigations of the interview report itself, a report from Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji chief executive officer John Tunidau , a report from MSAF tech­nical committee and relevant com­munications from all stakeholders, on which actions that need to be taken.

“At this stage, they are look­ing at another four weeks before the investigations are complete. Once the reports are compiled, all information will be given to the owner of the vessel. MSAF is re­quired to provide a copy of the re­port to the International Maritime Organisation,” he said.

He said any environmental ca­lamities from the MV Southern Phoenix were avoided.

“Following the sinking of the ship, the major issue after a sinking of a ship is what happens to the oil that was in the ship and then when it was trapped and what will happen to the leakage,” he said.

“This was because of the effective response from the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and Fiji Ports Corporation to minimise any oil spills from the vessel.

“MSAF received support from oth­er stakeholders in ensuring there was no leakage in the vessel.

“Apart from investigations, there is also an issue in the removal of the ship. There are two separate issues. MSAF has issued what is called a scuttling position, the ship is actu­ally needed to be picked up from where it is and taken to another position, where it would be uplifted and placed in its watery grave,” he said.

He said the removal of the MV Southern Phoenix has been award­ed to a company in Australia.

MV Southern Phoenix sunk on May 6, 2017 at the Suva Harbour.