The Royal New Zealand Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea has been boarding ships and cracking down on illegal fishing as well as safety issues such as unlicenced crew.
The vessel has been patrolling Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone since April and will continue for another two months.
Lieutenant Luhrs says their crew members have integrated well with personnel from the Fijian Navy and other Fijian agencies, and they have been operating together as one team.
Lieutenant Luhrs says eight patrols have been conducted during which useful training had been conducted with the 10 RFMF officers and sailors on board.
Lieutenant Luhrs confirmed that 26 crew members would be joining the vessel soon to replace the crew currently in Fiji.
