I TOLD MY SON: DON’T GO
■ Father of one of fishing vessel Tiro II’s crew member, Tevita Kapawale, speaks out
■ Authorities were informed of an incident onboard the vessel on May 19, 2021
■ It is still unclear as to how the vessel – which has since sunk – and its crew members came to a state as such as Police are questioning the three survivors.
The father of Tevita Kapawale, 26, who was rescued by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Naval Division on Thursday, said he was thankful that his son was alive.
Mr Kapawale is believed to have been part of the eight-member crew – five Fijians and three foreign nationals – on a fishing trip onboard Tiro II in the West part of Fiji.
The Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Co-ordination Centre was informed of an incident onboard the vessel, on the morning of Wednesday May 19, 2021.
Two other men, who remained in the vessel were rescued by crew members of Tiro II’s sister vessel Sam Weon on Friday.
The vessel sunk the same day. The other five crew members were believed to have gone overboard over the past week.
It is still unclear as to how the vessel and its crew members came to a state as such Police are questioning the three survivors. Police Spokesperson Savaira Tabua said they were receiving medical attention.
Mr Kapawale’s father, Semiti Rigamoto, said he never wanted his son to be a seafarer. An emotional Mr Rigamoto, who awaits word from Police of his son’s questioning said, Mr Kapawale was a casual worker but was unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. He chose the life of a seafarer because he wanted to support his wife and three children.
His son is married with three children.
Mr Rigamoto, a former seafarer himself, said he knows what life is like at sea.
“The last time I talked to my son was on Sunday (May 16, 2021) and I told him not to go,” Mr Rigamoto said.
“I told him that it was better to work on land because when something happens you can run but when out at sea you have nowhere to run except jump in the water.”
He said he was not made aware of an incident that happened at sea but found out in a Facebook post on Friday night.
“I am glad that my son is safe and pray that the others will be found,” Mr Rigamoto said.
“I was so thankful when I saw the pictures because now, I know that he is alive and well.”
Another survivor
Loata Lee, wife of another survivor, Kaminieli Tucama, breathed a sigh of relief after she received news from Police that her husband was alive and well.
Ms Lee said she has had sleepless nights when she heard from her husband’s friends that an incident had occurred on their vessel.
Mr Tucama’s sister-in-law, Taligo Petersen, said her brother-inlaw had worked for fishing vessels in Fiji and Solomon Islands and maintained a very good work record.
RFMF Naval Division
In a statement by the RFMF Naval Division yesterday afternoon, it confirmed that RFNS Savenaca was tasked to take over from RFNS Kikau in the search and rescue operations for the five other men who remain missing. The statement said Police would conduct investigations on what transpired onboard the now sunken fishing vessel.
The Indonesian Embassy in Fiji in a statement said: “Pending further investigation and confirmation by the agents, the embassy was informed that among the missing crew, three were possibly identified as being Indonesian nationals.”
On Friday night, Fiji Sun reached out to vessel operator, Tuna Fisheries Company Private Limited’s general manager, Jin Kyung Oh.
Mr Jin said he did not wish to comment and was awaiting investigations from authorities. The vessel left Port Mua-i-Walu, Suva, on May 8.