17 derelict vessels and 32 wrecks in our harbours

There are 17 derelict vessels and 32 wrecks in Suva Harbour, Lautoka Port and Levuka Port areas.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed this in parliament where he also confirmed that a number of shipping companies have been given notices to remove derelict ships.

He says sometimes it can cost anywhere from $50,000 to millions of dollars to remove a derelict ship and the cost is enormous.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there was an estimate done previously which stated that it will cost about $59 million to remove all derelict ships in Suva Harbour, Lautoka Harbour and Levuka.

He says a lot of local shipping companies don’t seem to carry shipwreck removal insurance and they are the ones who have littered the harbours.

Sayed-Khaiyum says these ship owners are supposed to remove the derelict ships and now the burden seems to be falling on Fiji Ports Corporation Limited.

He says they are happy to report that none of the derelict ships have caused any damage to the environment.