Fire incident sparks fresh concerns over marine safety
A fire broke out this week onboard the Chinese fishing vessel Dae Jin while it was berthed at Suva Harbor, Fiji. The 24-year-old, Fiji-flagged longliner had just completed offloading its catch when flames erupted in the engine room. Fortunately, all twelve crewmembers, comprising Chinese and Indonesian nationals, managed to escape, though some sustained minor injuries.
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has confirmed the incident and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, the Fiji Ports Authority dispatched a tug to tow the burnt vessel out of the harbor to prevent further risks.
Abandoned fishing vessels: A growing environmental and safety threat
This latest incident comes amid increasing concerns about the rising number of abandoned fishing vessels near Suva Harbor. As operational costs continue to climb in the Pacific’s fishing industry, some companies are leaving their vessels stranded on remote islands. Fiji currently has 25 abandoned vessels, mostly Chinese-owned, posing environmental and navigational risks.
“The vessels started stacking up in the harbor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some owners have assisted in cleanup efforts, which reduced the number from 44 to 25. However, many still refuse to comply with removal notices,” said MSAF CEO Joeli Cawaki in an interview with BenarNews.
Some of these derelict vessels may have been operating illegally, without proper licenses or salvage insurance, placing the financial burden of removal on local authorities. MSAF estimates that it will require approximately $170,000 to dispose of all abandoned shipwrecks in Fijian waters.
The case for the Nairobi convention on wreck removal
With Fiji’s expansive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and an influx of foreign-owned fishing vessels, authorities anticipate more cases of abandoned ships in the future. However, the country has yet to ratify the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks. This international treaty, which came into force in 2015, holds shipowners financially accountable for the removal of hazardous wrecks and ensures that affected coastal states can take necessary action.
Several Pacific Island nations, including the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Nauru, have already signed the convention. If Fiji were to ratify it, the measure could strengthen the country’s ability to address marine debris and enforce accountability among foreign fishing operators.
As maritime safety and environmental sustainability become pressing issues in the Pacific, Fiji faces growing challenges in managing both operational and abandoned vessels. The recent fire on Dae Jin underscores the urgent need for stronger regulations and international cooperation in tackling these maritime threats.
