A Tuvaluan fishing vessel, Tuipuga caught fire on Friday night and was tugged out of the Suva Harbour as a precautionary measure.
SpeakingFijivillage, the Maritime Authority of Fiji Acting CEO, Captain Philip Hill says that the ship caught fire at around 6 to 6.30pm at the Mua‑i‑Walu 1 side at the Suva wharf, where all the fishing vessel come in and unload and reload.
Captain Hill says that the National Fire Authority could not contain the fire and they had to tug the vessel away from the wharf.
He says that the procedure that is followed when a ship is on fire and cannot be contained is that the ship is scuttled to over 500 metres outside the Suva Harbour.
Captain Hill says this procedure ensures that pollutants from the vessel do not affect the environment or fishing grounds that communities near the Suva Harbour use.
He says they will be inspecting the ship tomorrow once the fire has been fully contained.
Hill has confirmed that investigations will be conducted following the inspection to ascertain the cause of the fire.
