Two new vessels planned as Government tackles shipping disruptions

Government plans to acquire two new vessels to strengthen Fiji's inter-island shipping network, as it works to address vessel shortages, dry-docking delays and a lack of qualified ship captains and crew.

Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau said one vessel was being finalised for Cabinet approval, while a second multipurpose vessel would be funded through Japan's assistance to support both shipping services and disaster response.

Ro Filipe said Government was also close to resolving compliance issues affecting shipping operators.

He said one of the major challenges was the need for vessels to travel overseas, including to New Zealand, for mandatory dry docking.

"There needs to be some lead time in for the operators to book dry docking," he said.

He said operators had also struggled to recruit qualified masters and captains locally.

"That's been sorted out with MSAF," he said, adding the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji could provide further details on the arrangements.

On crewing, Ro Filipe said employers seeking to recruit foreign seafarers must first demonstrate they had been unable to find suitably qualified local workers.

"They need to demonstrate that they have done recruitment attempts and they could not acquire the necessary employee," he said.

Of Fiji's approximately eight government-owned vessels, some remain under repair, prompting Government to review whether shipping services should be managed through a state-owned enterprise.

"So that the control of the maritime sector is not held by just one or two operators," he said.

On other infrastructure matters, Ro Filipe said the South Taveuni water project was awaiting landowner approval for pipelaying, while concerns over Energy Fiji Limited power outages without adequate notice had been raised directly with the Minister for Finance.