INVESTIGATIONS will be conducted on the recent maritime incident involving a fibre-glass boat transporting passengers last week in Ono-i-Lau.
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji confirms that they will also look into the Goundar Shipping Limited’s Lomaiviti Princess XII (LP XII) ship operations.
The fibre-glass boat was believed to have been transporting passengers to the LP XII when it capsized in rough sea conditions on Thursday, January 15.
The authority said they will look into issues concerning loading activities too that reportedly occurred during rough weather conditions.
The investigations will be undertaken in accordance with applicable maritime safety regulations and procedures.
The organisation has reminded vessel operators and members of the public that voyages should not be taken when weather conditions are unsafe. Strict adherence to official weather advisories is critical, as proceeding in rough sea conditions places lives at serious risk.
The authority said it remains committed to strengthening maritime safety through regulatory oversight, collaboration with vessel operators, relevant agencies and the continuous improvement of safety standards across Fiji’s maritime sector.
