Police are calling on all boat operators to comply with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) safety standards after three boats capsised recently on our waters resulting in passengers losing their lives.
The safety standards in the Maritime (Commercial Boating) Regulations 2014 state that a commercial boating operator shall provide every passenger on board a commercial boat with a personal flotation device.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu says the simple regulations that boat operators need to follow are not being followed and it has resulted in lives being lost.
ACP Driu says the three incidents from Baulevu, Yasawa and the Lau Waters recently should be a wake-up call for all small boat operators.
He adds they will conduct inspections with MSAF about these rules not being followed.
