After careful consideration the search for the remaining five crew members of the FV Tiro II has been suspended.
The Republic of Fiji Navy said this decision wasn’t taken lightly and the suspension was based on a few factors including the number of days since those missing went overboard, information received that none was wearing a life jacket or a flotation device, the weather experienced within the search area during the search, the distance of their last known position to the nearest point of land and the vast area covered by both aerial and surface assets.
Fiji Navy said they would continue to advise ships in the area for any sighting and that RFNS Savenaca was still operating out at the area of interest.
“Our team will continue to work with the Fiji Police Force and assist them with their investigations on circumstances surrounding the unfortunate case,” Fiji Navy said.
Navy commander Captain Humphrey Tawake had earlier stated that the Tiro II was located west of Navula Passage with the two men on board.
He said the men were handed to police for investigations into allegations of crew members of the vessel jumped overboard when an alleged murder took place.
“The vessel’s crew are Chinese, Indonesian and Fijian nationals and we are aware of the allegations that a Fijian national had beheaded a second Fijian national following a heated argument,” he said.
