Photo: Supplied
A Fijian government says one of the country's main inter-island shipping providers has violated several maritime safety and environmental obligations.
Earlier this month, Goundar Shipping's vessel Lomaiviti Princess II capsized after being towed out of Suva Harbour by the Fiji Ports Authority and has since spilled oil.
In a statement, the Joint Maritime Environment Committee said the that the ship had been non-operational since 2019, and Goundar Shipping should have removed and defuelled the vessel.
It said the company has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in managing its vessel to prevent harm to the marine environment and other port users, which they breached.
Minister for Enviroment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu said there are no exemptions when it comes to environmental protection.
"We will not allow Fiji's ports and waters to become dumping grounds."
The committee statement said Fiji Ports undertook the relocation of the Lomaiviti Princess II after Goundar Shipping failed to act on the removal orders issued.
This was done under the authority of regulation 78 of the Sea Ports Management Regulations 2008.
RNZ Pacific has reached out to Goundar Shipping for comment. The company's director has previously declined several times to comment on this matter.
The Climate Change Ministry also established Goundar Shipping does not hold a valid waste disposal permit for any of its vessels, the statement said.
"It must also be made clear that should GSL argue that they were not aware of their waste disposal permit obligations under EMA 2005, that Section 37 would apply, whereby any damage caused to the environment through discharge of waste or pollutant from the facility, activity or undertaking, the body corporate is liable for remedial actions," the statement said.
The committee said Fiji Ports has been "actively pursuing recovery efforts to prevent further spillage".
It said Fiji Ports has also commenced discussions with three potential service providers for underwater inspection and removal of any oil/sludge inside the vessel. This process will take approximately four to eight weeks
Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau has directed that a thorough maritime investigation be conducted into the incident to ascertain the cause of the incident, determine responsibility, and identify any gaps in standard operating procedures.
