Importation of ships issue
A FEW mandatory requirements concerning the importation of ships in the country has been raised by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
The authority’s ship inspection manager and officer-in-charge, Sesoni Komaisoso said in accordance to the Ships Registration Act 2013, prior written approval from the Minister for Transport was required for the registration of any second-hand ship that was over 20 years old.
This registration requirement was to be followed by any ship that wished to trade for commercial purpose in Fiji.
MSAF said that a person or entity must comply with the Ships Registration Act 2013 and get prior written approval from the minister before entering into any form of agreement in relation to the procurement/purchase and importation of a subject ship for commercial purpose.
“It is important to note that, as part of the process, intending owners need to be aware of paragraph 1.12.1 of the Maritime (Fiji Maritime Code) Regulation 2014, which mandates that before a ship is built or an existing ship is purchased or substantially altered, the owner or intending owner shall contact the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and provide certain information which would allow the authority to carry out an initial assessment of the ship,” Mr Komainasoso said.
Once the above process is fulfilled, the authority will then seek approval from the minister for transport before procurement and importation can begin.
Mr Komainasoso said the authority and the ministry of transport, would not be responsible for any dealings for the procurement and importation of any ship for a commercial purpose that was 20 years old or more in the country, especially those that did not comply with the process and did not have the minister’s prior written approval.