Maritime island services have been severely affected after Interlink Shipping Limited announced that they have stopped their shipping services from today as they urgently need experienced seafarers from abroad, and safety cannot wait.
Interlink Shipping rejects the claim that the operators are “strong-arming” the regulator.
They say they have been directly liaising with Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji for the past eight months, during which two Acting CEOs have changed, yet no progress has been made.
The company says the current Acting CEO has openly stated that she does not see a need for the recruitment of international seafarers, insisting on safeguarding local seafarers regardless of experience.
Managing Director of Interlink, Ashish Kumar says they have had two vessels running aground in the last four months, and the latest incident involving the Spirit of Harmony yesterday was just outside Nabouwalu.
People are seriously concerned regarding shipping services to and back from the North as Goundar's Shipping has also stopped it's services.
Kumar says MSAF also fails to announce their ship groundings.
He says these incidents could have led to ships sinking and lives being lost.
Kumar says even after one grounding, MSAF delayed inspection for three weeks until the company reminded them to act.
He asks what does this say about the current administration’s safety standards.
Kumar stresses the real issue is the urgent need for expert crew approvals.
He says without higher qualified officers, vessels are unsafe, and passengers are at risk.
Kumar says while the Assistant Minister for Transport has suggested government vessels could fill the gap, more ships without proper crew will only replicate the same failures and compromise safety further.
Interlink says it spends millions of dollars maintaining vessels to the highest standards but with limited class 1 and 2 crew, the risk is unacceptably high.
Kumar stresses that safety cannot be compromised, and they will not be forced to compromise it.
He says at the end of the day, it will not be MSAF or the government who face jail or liability if lives are lost — it will be the operators.
He calls on MSAF to publish every incident reported, including groundings, so the public can make informed choices about which company they trust to travel with.
The company demands the immediate approval for international seafarers to fill in the shortage gap and lack of experience.
Kumar says delays, excuses, and bureaucratic roadblocks have dragged this matter for 8 months.
When we approached Acting MSAF CEO, Sereana Lalakobau, she refused to comment as they are still having discussions.
We have sought the comments of the Minister for Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau. He is yet to respond.
