Owners of sunken vessel working with Ports Corporation to remove ship from Suva Harbour

The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji says that the owners of the sunken vessel, MV Southern Phoenix are currently working with Fiji Ports Corporation Limited to remove the ship from the Suva Harbour.

MSAF also confirms that the oil extraction and recovery operation on the Southern Phoenix had been completed earlier this year by salvage company, Ardent, under close supervision by MSAF’s Pollution Team and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited.

A team from Maritime New Zealand also assisted with the process.

MSAF says the operation was completed on 1st June.

CEO John Tunidau says although the clean‑up and salvaging of oil and chemicals is completed, an MSAF team is present at the site as a precautionary measure to monitor any possible left over oil slick that may be emitted from the wreck.

Tunidau says if any threat to the environment is detected, MSAF is ready to deploy immediately.