Detention of $7M Goundar vessel before the Court, Minister confirms

The detention of Goundar Shipping Limited's (GSL) fast ferry MV Captain Inoke is now a matter for the courts, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau confirmed on Friday.

"The matter is sub judice before the courts," Ro Filipe said when asked about the company's public call for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to intervene.

Sub judice is a legal term meaning a case is under judicial consideration and should not be publicly discussed to avoid influencing court proceedings.

Ro Filipe said court papers had been served on the Government, himself, and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).

"We should respect the process of the court and the outcome," Ro Filipe said, declining further comment on GSL's allegations of governance issues at MSAF.

In a Facebook post, the company called the year-long detention "a direct threat to investor confidence" and demanding ministerial accountability.

The company also claimed the vessel had met all technical and safety requirements but received no clear written justification for the delay.

The vessel, purchased for over $7 million, has remained docked since arriving from South Korea in January 2025.

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