Oil Tanker Forced To Comply with Law Before Departure
An oil tanker was caught in Savusavu by the Department of Environment operating without a permit for the transportation of fuel.
The permit is a requirement under the Environmental Management Act which came into effect in 2005.
The Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe and his team including director Sandeep Singh noticed the oil tanker, Boringia Swan, while conducting an onsite visit nearby.
The vessel, operated by Uni-Tankers, was anchored close to the Pacific Energy Terminal property.
The team decided to check if the vessel was operating with proper documentation.
Upon enquiries and after numerous calls by Ms Singh the team found that the vessel had no permit under the Act which covers the transportation and storage of all hazardous material including fuel.
Arrival details
The vessel arrived in Savusavu on Tuesday morning and was scheduled to depart for Tonga later in the afternoon.
A notice was immediately issued by the Department of Environment ordering the vessel not to move until all the proper documentations were done.
Mr Wycliffe said the company had some valid documents. Other required documents were not available. “Unfortunately, it was about to set sail for Tonga (Tuesday night) and we couldn’t allow it to go out to the sea with lack of documents, so we had to temporarily stop it and tell them to wait,” Mr Wycliffe said. “Within a couple of hours, we were able to help them organise some documentation, our staff worked overtime and we were able to provide them with the required documents. It turned out that it was able to set sail the same night as they had planned without much delay.”
He appreciated the efforts taken by the company in complying with the relevant requirements.
He also advised the company to ensure that proper documentations were done before they proceeded with their operations in Fiji. “We will support businesses, we will support investments and we ensure that we are able to provide support but at the same time being able to do the right thing. “This includes having the right kind of documentation in line.” Pacific Energy Environment Officer Romika Prerana said they were not aware of the Act, however, they had complied with the requirements.
She said the vessel had been operating for so many years and they’ve had proper documents as far as waste and pollution control was concerned, however, acquiring a permit was “new to us”. Meanwhile, the Act outlined that a facility that fails to comply with the notice commits an offence after the period specified in the notice expires, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.