TrAining Ensures Confident, Competent BoAt OperAtors
Twenty Government seafarers are now equipped with a Boat Masters Licence after one week of training off Nukulau Island.
The high-level training involved four boats called Sealegs, a type of amphibious craft (with wheels) and an Icon vessel, which was used as a rescue boat.
The Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) technical adviser Gary Frost said that the workers were not only taught how to drive, but also received a training package that included technical and maintenance sessions. “Training started on Monday with the New Zealand Coast Guard, Maritime New Zealand and doing things like man overboard drills, search and rescue, boat preparation and safety tricks,” Mr Frost said.
“These fulfilled the requirements of a Boat Masters License plus we have been doing a lot of driving. “We have been in and out of the Rewa River and Nasilai Beach. “With the assistance of MSAF, we will now have qualified and competent operators, if they are needed by any Government department. “By the end of the week we will have licensed operators, qualified to handle boats. More importantly confident and competent with the boats.
“We have used them during a Kadavu response drill recently. We used the Icon and sent two Sealegs down to Kadavu so we are running assessment teams also. Running rations, being very useful.” Mr Frost said that his team had discussions with the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu. They are planning on combining these boats with the health vessels so they can reach the people on the far-flung islands in the Lau group The Sealegs cost NZD$200,000 (FJD$291, 157) each and the barge icon costs NZD$600,000 (FJD$873, 569). One of the participants from the office of the Divisional Commissioner Western in Lautoka, Richard Vunitabua, said this training helped him obtain a BML. “The NZ Coastguard has taught me how to rescue people from the sea and how to have a good state of mind,” Mr Vunitabua said. Ship surveyor Ratu Kinivuwai said during the training these experts imparted useful tips he would now teach other officers in MSAF and maybe incorporate in the course materials at the Fiji Maritime Academy.