THE Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has received complaints from 10 groups and individuals regarding Goundar Shipping Ltd’s newly-imported high-speed ferry, Captain Inoke.
MSAF chief executive officer Joeli Cawaki said the concerns were referred to the Ministry of Environment as they were regarding the possible threats the vessel might be to the marine environment.
“We have received at this table, I think, 10 groups and individuals that have come through with their concerns,” Mr Cawaki said.
“Their concern was that it is not environmentally friendly.
“So, I told them MSAF is a technical organisation in terms of vessels, not the environment.
“So if you have concerns, please go to the Ministry of Environment, and the ministry, with all their technicalities, will then present it to the Ministry of Transport for us to be able to consider.
“But we are not the experts in the environment. We can’t make a decision on that because we are not experts in that.”
He said MSAF was told that prior to the arrival of Captain Inoke, Goundar Shipping Ltd had brought in six other vessels before getting approval from MSAF.
“About six boats, he (Mr Goundar of Goundar Shipping Ltd.) did the same.
“So, this decision made is basically to tell him to do the right thing.
“I would like to say to Mr Goundar, bear with us. Come in, work with us.
“I told him from the start, when I started here.”
Comments were not received from Goundar Shipping Ltd yesterday when this edition went to press.
