The opening of the maritime essential services at the end of 2024 will be a huge enabler for the RFMF and Fiji as the centre will accommodate the naval headquarters, maritime domain fusion centre, rescue coordination centre, Fiji hydrographic office and a coastal radio station.
Commander Republic of Fiji Navy, Humphrey Tawake, said this at the Commander Stan Brown Naval Base at Walu Bay yesterday where Fijian and Australian naval officers gathered for their annual end of the year parade.
Commander Tawake thanked them for the work undertaken in the course of the year, the challenges faced, surmounted and surpassed, and the changes that are expected to occur in the future.
“Even though our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is 1.3 million square kilometres, we actually look after six million square kilometres which is a very huge area,” he said.
“We lost 15 people to mishaps at sea this year but we also rescued 215 people in collaboration with the maritime authorities of New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia and the French through Noumea.”
He said the institution had recruited more women into the service to bring about a more gender balanced workforce.
The institution will also take ownership of a new vessel, RFSN Puamau in April 2024, “thanks to the collaboration with the Pacific Maritime Security program”.
