An urgent call is being made by Interlink Shipping Services Managing Director, Ashish Kumar to the government and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji after reduced shipping services between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu from today due to the lack of experienced seafarers and the safety of the passengers.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Kumar says they have been asking MSAF for 8 months that the company needs experienced seafarers from abroad to ensure the safety of the passengers and the vessels.
Kumar says they have 5 vessels but cannot operate all of them due to a lack of captains and other senior crew members.
This will affect passenger travel and the delivery of goods to Vanua Levu as Interlink carried most of the freight to the Northern Division.
Kumar says MSAF is saying that the jobs should go to local seafarers however he says safety cannot be compromised as they need experienced senior crew members.
He says they are ready to bring in experienced seafarers from the Philippines but MSAF is not allowing this.
Kumar says they have had 2 ships running aground in the last 4 months - the latest incident was yesterday when the Spirit of Harmony ran aground just outside Nabouwalu.
He says they urgently need about 20 Class 1 and Class 2 officers from abroad, and call on the authorities to act with urgency to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
MSAF has not made any comments today.
We have contacted the Minister for Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau and Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto. They are yet to comment.
