THE arrival of Goundar Shipping’s new fast ferry MV Captain Inoke has been mired in controversy after it was revealed the ship has not been surveyed by Fiji’s licensing authorities yet.
Yesterday, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) CEO Joeli Cawaki confirmed to this newspaper the vessel would be surveyed this week.
“The thing is we were supposed to survey the vessel in Korea and there was a political uprising in Korea, and it was under martial law, so we were not able to survey,” he said.
However, Goundar Shipping managing director George Goundar said he was frustrated by the political play and “jealousy” that had materialised, adding that he had no choice but to get the vessel to Fiji because of the high cost involved to keep the ship in Korea.
“As an investor, it cost me thousands of dollars to keep the vessel in Korea,” he said.
“The documentation in Korea or from Japan, it takes us two to three days to get our documentation while it takes MSAF four to five months.
“It cost me $US4000 a day in Korea for the vessel to be there. There’s the labour, the wharfage, the crew wages, and all the allowances.
“It’s not registered under MSAF, but we have given all our documents, and we don’t know what they are doing.”
The vessel is expected to service routes such as Natovi and Savusavu.
Mr Goundar said he hoped the surveying and licensing of the vessel was done “sooner rather than later”.
Goundar Shipping’s new fast ferry MV Captain Inoke approaches the Mua-i-Walu jetty on January 3, 2025.
Picture: JOSEGA SIGAVOLAVOLA
