Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Parveen Bala has clarified that any sunken vessels within the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL) area are the responsibility of the ports authority.

This was in response to questions raised by SODELPA Member of Parliament, Ro Kinivilame Kilira­ki, in Parliament yesterday.

Ro Kiniviliame asked if there was any commitment by the ministry to remove the sunken vessels in the Levuka Wharf Bay and in front of the Ovalau Resort.

Mr Bala said the Sinu-i-Wasa at the Levuka Wharf was the respon­sibility of the FPCL as stated un­der the Sea Ports Management Act 2005.

He said Sinu-i-Wasa III was how­ever out of the ports authority boundary.

“As a result of Tropical Cyclone Winston, Sinu-i-Wasa III was still stuck in a solid rock and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) was to oversee the removal of the wreck,” Mr Bala said.

“MSAF had issued a removal no­tice to the ship owner and both par­ties had discussed its removal.

“The owner was able to engage a company for the removal of the ship and to purchase equipment from overseas to assist in the opera­tion.”

The owners have also requested for some time because the ship needed to be cut and removed.

Mr Bala added that if any notice issued by MSAF was not adhered to, the matter would be referred to court.

Ro Kiniviliame asked if the two villages have been compensated after the Sinu-i-Wasa III vessel was beached.

Mr Bala replied that he had been informed by MSAF that there had been discussion on this and ar­rangements were being made.

Edited by Percy Kean

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