After a long wait and a major salvage exercise, the sunken vessel MV Southern Phoenix was removed from Suva Harbour yesterday morning.

The container vessel sank at the south end of the Kings Wharf on May 6, 2017.

It took Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL) 18 months of finalising procedures that resulted in the successful removal of the wreck by Papua New Guinea based-salvage company Pacific Towing Company Limited (PACTOW) two years later.

PACTOW won the Tender Process from three shortlisted overseas companies and began the wreck removal operation in November 2018. FPCL Chief Executive Officer Vajira Piyasena thanked the owner of the sunken vessel, Cruz Holdings Limited, for its commitment since they were issued with the Removal Order on May 8, 2017 under the Seaport Management Regulations Act.

Approximately $1m alone was spent to mobilise the salvaging equipment by PACTOW to Fiji at the vessel owner’s cost.

FPCL remains hopeful that other derelict vessel owners will use this opportunity to have their vessels removed from the area within the Suva port boundary.

Under the Seaport Management Regulation Act 2005, removal of derelict vessels within the Port boundaries is the responsibility of the owner. The removal of the Southern Phoenix is also done under the supervision of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.