The Republic of Military Forces (RFMF) Naval Division plans to have women sailors make up 16 per cent of the service.

This was confirmed to the Fiji Sun yesterday by the Chief of Navy, Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake, at his office at the Captain Stanley Brown Naval Base at Walu Bay, Suva.

Currently, he said, there were a total of 30 women sailors all working on land.

“We will recruit more women sailors to reach our 16 per cent target of our total number, which is 480,” Captain (Navy) Tawake said.

He said the new navy vessel from Australia named “Savenaca” would arrive in April next year.

This vessel, he said, was the first to be named after a former naval seaman.

Savenaca Naulumatua from Yasawa and Timo Puamau from Lau were members of the Fiji Naval Volunteer Force and during World War II they were part of the HMSNZF Leander’s crew that was hit by a Japanese torpedo at the Battle of Kolombangara in July 1943.

They both died in this battle.

New hydrographic vessel

Captain (Navy) Tawake said that in October the hydrographic vessel Volasiga would arrive in the country from South Korea.

Six naval officers will fly out soon to South Korea to test the new vessel.

A 45-metre pier

The RFMF Navy commander also confirmed that the construction of a 45-metre pier will start soon from the Captain Stanley Brown Naval Base, Walu Bay.

Work, he said, should be completed in April next year when the vessel Savenaca arrived in the country.

Captain (Navy) Tawake said an Australian company would carry out the construction work.

RFMF Navy Brass band

Captain (Navy) Tawake confirmed that 20 members of the RFMF Navy Brass Band would graduate in August.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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