Fiji Marine Board

Warns Captains

The Fiji Marine Board has issued a stern warning to ships’ masters about the need to handle their vessels competently.

It also voiced its concern over the safety of passengers. The board had just suspended, for 1 2 months, the certificate of Captain Inosa Nabola, who was master of the pleasure cruiser, Sayandra when she grounded on March 9.

The board, after a preliminary inquiry into the grounding, found that Captain Nabola had shown “unseamanlike

behaviour” in taking the Sayandra through

dangerous passages. However, the board did not open a formal inquiry.

At another inquiry into the grounding of the Tui Taveuni on March 5, the board also decided against a formal inquiry. It “deplored the fact that the master took undue risk in not anchoring properly.”

Proper anchors and cables had to be on board ships registered with the board.

In the case of the Tui Taveuni, if proper ground tackle had been used, the accident might well have been avoided. Masters were warned to watch that point in future. • Two Solomon Islands ships, the Com pass Rose II and the Regina M, were slightly damaged in an accident at Point Cruz wharf in March. The Compass Rose II was at her moorings when the Regina M, on the way to the main wharf, hit her in the stern. Damage to the Compass Rose II was estimated at $1,000. It did not prevent the ship sailing on schedule for West District and Malaita. Damage to the Regina M was superficial. The wharf was

slightly damaged.