Fiji Navy News

Salvors have recovered Fiji's naval patrol boat RFNS Puamau, three weeks after the brand new vessel went aground on its maiden patrol.The vessel was successfully recovered from the reef at Fulaga and towed to the safe waters of Ogea Island where a thorough damage assessment will be conducted, the Republic of Fiji Navy said.RFNS Puamau is a Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) built by Austal for the Australian Department of Defence, which gifted the vessel to Fiji's Navy.Just months after the vessel's official handover in March…

Responders are working to salvage Fiji's brand new naval patrol boat, which ran aground during its maiden voyage last week.The vessel, RFNS Puamau, is a Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) built by Austal for the Australian Department of Defence, which gifted the vessel to the Republic of Fiji Navy.Just months after the vessel's official handover in March, it hit a reef on Fiji's remote Lau group of islands on June 10, during its first patrol.Now salvors are working to recover the stricken vessel while minimizing environmental impacts, including a potential oil spill.

A United States Coast Guard vessel was unable to enter Solomon Islands for a routine port call because the Solomon Islands government did not respond to a request for it to refuel and provision, a U.S. official said.The islands' government did not immediately answer a Reuters request for comment. The Solomon Islands has had a tense relationship with the United States and its allies since striking a security pact with China in May.The USCGC Oliver Henry was on patrol for illegal fishing in the South Pacific for a regional fisheries agency when it failed to obtain entry to refuel at Honiara…

The Fiji Maritime Academy (FMA) is on the right track to become one of the finest maritime training institutions in the region. It has also achieved an important milestone after being awarded International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Certification. The Academy is planning a history-making launch March 9 with the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, a former Fiji Navy commander will officially open the revitalised 45-year-old training institute. The ceremony is planned at the Laucala Bay, Suva facility. The training facility has spearheaded the careers of more than 3,000 students since becoming part of the Fiji National University in 2009.

Fiji has prevented the livestock carrier MV Polaris 2 travelling to China from Chile, from entering Fijian waters because it did not have the proper transit permit. The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji informed that the livestock ship carrying thousands of heifers has been forced back into international waters after it tried to enter Fiji claiming to be low on fuel, water and fodder reserves. BAF Executive Chairman, Xavier Riyaz Khan said they assess the biosecurity risks associated with all cargo vessels entering our waters before issuing a transit permit. Khan said it is important to protect Fiji’s bio-diversity and prevent the spread of animal, plant pests and diseases that could be harmful to Fiji’s agricultural sector.