The brand-new Guardian Class Patrol Boat added to the ranks of the Fijian Navy, the RFNS Savenaca, will boost Fiji’s efforts in cracking down on international criminal networks and the drug trade.

Yesterday at the Austal Shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Minister for Defence and National Security Inia Seruiratu and Commander Republic of Fiji Military Forces Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto officially received the patrol boat.

The RFNS Savenaca is part of the replacement of the Pacific Patrol Boats under Australia’s AU$2 billion (FJ$2.94bn) 30-year commitment to the Pacific region under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme.

Mr Bainimarama said the new vessel could not enter the ranks of Fiji’s Navy at a more pressing time.

“International criminal networks are hitting the Pacific hard –– particularly with the drug trade.

“Most of the narcotics passing through our waters are bound for lucrative markets –– Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and other hubs in Australia and New Zealand –– but the inevitable spillover makes this an issue far larger than any one market or nation.”

He said it was vital to work together to keep criminals out of our waters and keep hard drugs out of our people’s hands.

From left: Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price, Fijian Minister
for Defence, National Security Inia Seruiratu, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
and the Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds at the Austal Shipyard
in Henderson, Western Australia on March 6, 2020. Photo: Office of the Prime
Minister

“With the RFNS Savenca in the ranks of our fleet, our capacity to combat drug smugglers will be further bolstered for the benefit of our people and our society at large.”

It will also help in combating illegal fishing, dumping, and human trafficking

None of these are Fijian threats alone, Mr Bainimarama said.

“In fact, the one thing criminal operators, massive piles of trash, and swimming schools of tuna all have in common is a disregard for national oceanic boundaries.

“The lines divvying up our seas exist only in our minds – in reality, the reckless abuse of any one square kilometre of ocean impacts us all.”

Mr Bainimarama also acknowledged the work of the late Fijian Ambassador Satya Nandan who passed away last week.

In the 1980s Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone covered over one million square miles of the earth’s surface.

“Securing Fiji’s status as a large ocean state didn’t require a conquering armada to seize new swaths of sea. All it took was smart diplomacy, specifically, years of consensus-building from Fijian Ambassador Satya Nandan – who successfully championed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“I know he would be proud to stand here in this moment as we strengthen Fiji’s ability to safeguard our seas.”

At the handover ceremony Australia’s Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said it was in the spirit of the Vuvale partnership that they hand over the RFNS Savenaca “to one of our closest regional partners.

“We will continue to work with Fiji on our shared commitment to a support a region that is strategically secure, economically stable and politically sovereign.”

The RFNS Savenaca is the first of two Guardian-class Patrol Boats that will be gifted to Fiji under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme. The second boat will be delivered in 2023.

This vessel departs for its Fijian berth next month after its crew wrap up over two years of training.

Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
on the bridge of the RFNS Savenaca at Henderson, Western Australia, on March 6, 2020.
Photo: Office of the Prime Minister

Who is the RFNS Savenaca named after?

The RFNS Savenaca is named after Fijian Navy sailor Ordinary Seaman Savenaca Naulumatua who served in World War II.

At that time, the Royal New Zealand Navy was charged with Fiji’s defence, and Savenaca served on board the HM NZS Leander.

In the vicious fighting at the Battle of Kolombangara in the Solomons, he was killed in action.

He gave his life in defence of freedom in the Pacific.

The RFNS Savenaca is the first of two Guardian-class Patrol Boats that will be gifted to Fiji under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme.

The second boat will be delivered in 2023.

Some features:

Room for 23 crew and a 3000 nautical range.

The RFNS Savenaca is named after Fijian Navy sailor Ordinary Seaman Savenaca Naulumatua who served in World War II. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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