Boat services to resume next week, says Goundar
GOUNDAR Shipping Ltd will resume its operations to Lakeba next week, says managing director George Goundar.
Mr Goundar said they had to cancel their trip to Lakeba because of the pumice raft.
He said they were waiting for the pumice raft to clear off before they resumed services.
“Unfortunately, it only got into the bay and the other areas there are clean.
It’s only at Tubou but it’s slowly drifting out now,” he said.
“Once it clears out, we are good to go. It becomes a hazard especially for our engine cooling system. The particles could get into the engine and it could clog up the filters and the engine heats up.
“It is a nuisance and this is not the first time this is happening. We can go through it, but we are just careful of our cooling system.”
Last week, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) had issued a coastal navigational warning to mariners about large pumice raft that was spotted in the southern Lau Group.
According to MSAF, the large pumice raft was part of a recent volcanic activity and had drifted within the Lau Group vicinity.
The coastal navigation warning also stated that the pumice raft was adrift east of Lakeba and east-north of Oneata and was moving westwards.
Meanwhile, MSAF acting chief executive officer Philip Hill said MSAF had issued a notice to vessel operators advising them to be cautious of the situation in Lakeba.
Capt Hill said boat services could continue but it was important for mariners to be cautious about it.
He said the authority would need to further check the situation on the island.
It is a nuisance and this is not the first time this is happening
– George Goundar