The Maritime Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has urged the general public and maritime transport communities to follow the ticketing system where 75 percent of tickets are allocated to first-comers at ticketing booths, while 25 percent are reserved for passengers who prefer to pay their fares at the jetty or on board the ship.
MSAF states that this measure is necessary due to recent incidents of overloading caused by over-ticketing and emphasizes the importance of adhering to these steps to ensure safety.
The Authority also reminds the public that if they miss purchasing tickets at the booths, their chances of travelling on that trip are only 50/50, and they may need to stand by and risk being offloaded.
Ship owners are required to monitor ticket sales through their booths, sales representatives and other channels and must assess demand for each trip and prepare accordingly, or either by deploying another vessel for the same route or adjusting their list of destinations, ensuring missed destinations are serviced by another vessel.
MSAF has called on local ship owners to remain vigilant during this busy season of increased maritime transportation.
They reiterate that maritime safety and the protection of Fiji’s pristine maritime environment are paramount.
The Authority has warned that they will not tolerate breaches of these two key pillars of their mandate and will take action, including stopping and detaining vessels, in cases of overloading or other violations.
