WORK was being done over the weekend to raise the fishing vessel Rising No. 2 which sank in August in the Suva Harbour just in front of the Tiko’s Floating Restaurant.
A crew working off the boat, Blue Whale were trying to lift the ship which sank in August this year making it the latest ship to go down in Suva Harbour.
According to sailors from neighbouring ships, when the Rising No. 2 sank, the ship was abandoned after it started taking in water through damage.
The owners of Rising No. 2, Sunshine Fisheries Ltd, are footing the bill for the removal of the ship from Suva Harbour.
Meanwhile, Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd records show there are 15 derelicts and six sunken ships in the harbour.
MV Suilven, the ferry which sank almost a year ago at the entrance of Suva Harbour, remains at the bottom.
When a ship becomes derelict or sinks, a report must be made with FPCL. The onus is on the owners to clear the ship from the harbour or face penalties.
FPCL said removing derelict ships was an expensive exercise.
In many cases, ship companies have been known to wilfully abandon ships because of their condition.
In many countries, tougher laws had been introduced to deter ship companies from doing this. Derelicts and sunken vessels are not only a problem to other vessels but also pose a danger to the environment.
