Local tug Burdekin yesterday towed to Suva the stricken Taiwanese fishing vessel it had salvaged after it ran aground in the Lau waters last month.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel, Fu Ying, with 15 crew members, 14 Indonesians and one Taiwanese was fishing in the Tongan waters and while transiting through the Fiji waters ran aground at a reef near Matuku Island.

Tug Burdekin is owned by Victoria Marine Limited (VML).

Victoria Marine operation manager, Felix Maharaj, said the company was hired to salvage the fishing vessel Fu Ying on November 2, 2020.

“Our tug Burdekin was deployed to Navatu Reef on October 29, with nine crew members,” Mr Maharaj said.

Operations commenced on October 30, and the first attempt to salvage was last Monday morning, November 2.

The Taiwanese registered vessel, Fu Ying aground at Navatu Reef in the Lau waters. Photo: RFMF Naval Division

“Further adjustments were made to the tow and at high water on Thursday (November 9), Fu Ying was successfully refloated,” he said.

Mr Maharaj said the vessel has been towed to Suva for necessary formalities with the border control and health authorities.

He refused to disclose the cost of the salvage works.

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