FIJI Ports Corporation Ltd records show there are 15 derelicts and six sunken ships in the Suva Harbour.
The latest is the Rising No.2 which sank on August 19, this year. It belongs to Sunshine Fishing Company, which has an office in Walu Bay, and has other ships which are berthed in Suva or use the port facilities.
According to FPCL, after talks and negotiations, the company had agreed to remove the ship and was given 30 days to do so.
FPCL chief executive Vajira Piyasena said after the 30 days, the company may not be able to use the facilities at the port.
Sunshine Fishing manager Winston Sun said they had paid money to a company, Pacific Marine Civil Services, to remove the ship.
He added they had now entered into talks with other companies for the removal of the ship because it was over three weeks and nothing had been done.
According to sailors from neighbouring ships when the Rising No.2 sank, the ship was abandoned after it started taking in water through damage.
Meanwhile, MV Suilven, the ferry which sank almost a year ago at the entrance of Suva Harbour, remains at the bottom as a court case between the company Venu Shipping and FPCL remained unresolved.
In the case a ship becomes derelict or sinks, a report must be made with FPCL. The owners have the onus to clear the ship from the harbour or face penalties.
FPCL said removing derelict ships was an expensive exercise.
In many cases, ship companies have been known to wilfully abandon ships because of their condition.
In many countries, tougher laws had been introduced to deter ship companies from doing this. Derelicts and sunken vessels are not only a problem to other vessels but also pose a danger to the environment.
