All 15 people on board a fishing vessel that ran aground at Navatu Reef in the Lau Group are safe.
The Republic of Fiji Navy in an official Facebook post stated the RFNS Savenaca was diverted from its patrol tasking to respond to search and rescue.
A navy search and rescue flight team was also part of the mission.
“All persons are safe and well and awaiting salvage operations being monitored from the Navy Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre,” the Republic of the Fiji Navy stated.
The navy search and rescue flight team and RFNS Savenaca also used the opportunity to test aeronautical search and rescue communications and protocols and also assessed for any indication of an oil spill.
“We acknowledge the Ministry of Defence for the expedited search and rescue flight tasking approval, Republic of Fiji Navy HQ and the Aeronautical Rescue Sub-Centre (ARSC) in Nadi for maintaining safety overwatch on the SAR flight.”
