LOMAIVITI PRINCESSIX
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Grounding caused to infamiliarity of captain with uncharted reefs
The grounding of the 'Lomaiviti Princess IX' on a reef in Lomaloma on its journey to Suva on Jan 6 was caused by a rookie captain’s unfamiliarity with navigating the unmarked reefs of Lau. The managing director of Goundar Shipping, George Goundar, confirmed the incident and attributed it to the captain’s inexperience. The 'Lomaiviti Princess VII' has been slated to take the stranded passengers from Vanuabalavu, Lau and deliver parts necessary for the repairs of the damaged ferry. The vessel was on standby, awaiting its return from Rotuma in the night of Jan 7 to embark on the mission. The passengers, who were safely relocated to the shore, expressed relief that no one had been injured in the incident. A handful of passengers, however, elected to remain onboard the vessel. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) was engaged and collaborating with Goundar Shipping regarding the incident. It has confirmed that Goundar Shipping engineers have been dispatched to assess and repair the damage. Report with photos: https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/accidents/goundar-shipping-vessel-hits-reef-new-captains-error-leads-to-accident/
Ferry damaged in grounding
The 'Lomaiviti Princess 9', transporting passengers to Cicia and Vanua Balavu in Lau, ran aground at Vanua Balavu in the afternoon of Jan 6, 2024. In the course of its planned return from Lomaloma to Suva, the vessel hit a reef in Lomaloma Bay causing extensive damage. Engineers were pumping water out of the vessel which docked at the Lomaloma jetty. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji was aware of the incident and was working with the Goundar shipping company to rectify the issue. Goundar Shipping announced the deployment of an alternative vessel, the 'Lomaiviti Princess 7' from Suva, scheduled to depart in the morning of Jan 8 to pick up the stranded passengers in Vanua Balavu by 6 p.m. Report with photo and video: https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/vessel-stranded-in-vanua-balavu-after-reef-encounter/
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