A salvage specialist has taken charge of recovery efforts after a cruise vessel ran aground on a reef in Fiji, as authorities move swiftly to minimise environmental risks and refloat the ship.
The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, grounded near Monuriki Island on Saturday after what is believed to have been a sudden squall that caused the vessel’s anchor to drag.
All 30 passengers on board were safely evacuated early Sunday morning via a ferry, with no injuries reported. They were transported to Denarau Island.
A salvage expert from Australia has been on site since Sunday, overseeing technical recovery operations and assessing the vessel’s condition.
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji had said early removal of fuel and onboard oils was a critical step in reducing the risk of environmental damage to the surrounding reef system.
Blue Lagoon Cruises confirmed that all pumpable fuel and other oils had been extracted by Monday, significantly lowering the threat of pollution.
The 55-metre vessel remains grounded as salvage teams work to determine the safest method to refloat it, with weather conditions and reef protection expected to guide the next steps.
