Blue Lane Initiative Visitors In

Owner of the first yacht to arrive into the country after the launch of the Blue Lane initiative has applauded how Fiji is dealing with its COVID 19 maritime rules. Robyn Cooper and her family on board, on board their yacht Renegade were kept under two quarantine for 14-days, it took them ten days to sail from New Zealand to Fiji.

“When we arrived in Fiji, the Port Denarau Marina told us to quarantine in the quarantine anchor,” Mrs Cooper said.

“We should have had another 14 days of quarantine but since we were the first boat, it took a day extra while the agency worked together to work out our papers,” she said.

She added the health officers, navy and police all came out to their yacht to check on them.

“The health officials took our temperature, checked our negative COVID results before we left NZ. They cleared us to leave the quarantine and go to the dock and then we proceeded into the marina where we were greeted by the staff and CEO of Denarau Marina.

“We had about eight officials on the boat. Customs, immigration and biosecurity all came to the boat to do the normal checking procedures to make sure we have everything in order with the yacht, that we don’t have any bio security issues, we don’t have anything to be cleared from customs.”

The family has been issued a visa for four months.

“It took an additional two days to get cruising permits finalised and our agent at the marina helped us out.

“Port Denarau Marina has great new facilities. We took the bus to Nadi town to get some groceries then came back. Shortly after we received our cruising permits we headed out to Musket Cove Marina.

“We spent about nine months in Fiji a year ago and we fell in love with Fiji. When Fiji opened their borders we didn’t hesitate to start figuring out how to get ourselves here in Fiji.”