On this date last year we raised the issue of derelict vessels, and the impact on our environment.
They littered the Suva Harbour, and still do today.
Former attorney-general in the FijiFirst government Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made this known in Parliament.
The estimated cost to remove all the derelict ships in Suva Harbour, Lautoka Harbour and Levuka, he noted at the time, was about $59 million.
A lot of the ships, he noted, had local owners and “they, sort of, sunk it and disappeared, so these companies do not even exist. That is the state of affairs”.
At the time, he said there were 17 derelict vessels and 32 wrecks in the Suva Harbour, and the Lautoka and Levuka Port area.
It wasn’t a new issue though because in 2018, we had highlighted the fact that “funding constraints” were hindering the removal of derelict vessels in Suva Harbour.
That year, Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd CEO Vajira Piyasena said there were nine vessels submerged within the harbour.
Their removal, he said, was subject to availability of funds though.
A Papua New Guinea-based company, Pacific Towing Ltd, as well as Perrott Salvage Pty Ltd Australia, he noted at the time, had been identified to carry out assessment work which included the removal of the MV Southern Phoenix.
Acquiring funds was the biggest challenge.
In 2017, he said FPCL paid more than $220,000 to remove two vessels — MV Sea Love and MV Tovuto.
It cost $85,000 to winch the partially submerged Sea Love to dry ground.
The Tovuto was towed and scuttled 1.4 miles south-west of the main Suva passage.
It makes sense then, that we should put in place stringent measures that will protect our harbour well into the future.
Otherwise, we may just as well send out a memo suggesting we have a harbour for derelict vessels, and companies can just sail in their vessels, pack up, and leave the country, with their rusty vessel becoming an eye-sore.
There will be concern about the number of vessels been dumped in Suva, given the location of our harbour, availability of appropriate facilities for repair and maintenance work for vessels, resupply of rations, and proximity to fishing grounds in the region.
There would be concern about environmental pollution, as the beauty of the Suva Harbour is overtaken by derelict vessels.
Aside from the environmental impact, they pose a threat to local vessels using the harbour, they are ugly and are eyesores.
And while we are at it, derelict vessels reflect badly on us when we talk about protecting our environment and our waterfront.
This is why we must put our foot down and owners of such vessels must get the message that we value our marine resources and harbour.
They must remove these rusty, ugly, old iron waste that were once vessels.
We must protect our environment, and if it means putting in place very tough laws and requirements to use our harbour in the future, then so be it.
