MINISTER FAIYAZ KOYA'S REMARKS AT THE OPENING OF THE PACIFIC HARBOUR OFFICE MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY OF FIJI

Chairman of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) Board, David Kolitagane,
MSAF Board Members,
CEO MSAF, Simon Gravenall,
Agency Representative,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ni sa Bula Vinaka and a very Good Morning to you.
It is with great pleasure that I am here this morning to officially open the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) Pacific Harbour Office. What better place than Fiji’s Adventure Capital!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
In opening what is now our twelfth office in the country, I am proud to witness and say that we are bringing our services right to your doorsteps.

This is truly a testimony of the collective commitment of the Fijian Government and the maritime industry to ensure the continued evolution of MSAF, as an entity devoted to developing and protecting Fiji’s maritime standards.
 
Given our geographical dispersion, improving inter-island marine transportation is essential for our livelihoods, for trade and commerce. This is our mandate, and more importantly, our commitment in line with the 5-Year and 20-Year National Development Plan (NDP).
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Safety at sea is paramount for the Fijian Government. It is a key priority, with strategies and programmes implemented to raise awareness, regulate and enforce laws in favour of safety.
 
Environmental concerns, such as risk of oil spills, waste discharge and damage to our pristine marine ecosystem is also extremely important. While the MSAF, and Fijian Government are mandated to ensure that environmental and marine development is properly regulated and enforced -- it is equally the responsibility of every Fijian.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fijian Government in the NDP has mandated the establishment of MSAF offices not only around the Maritime Islands but to take its services to the whole of Fiji and to as many Fijians as possible.
 
For some of you, it may be of particular interest that the MSAF has taken a step towards creating more eco-friendly offices, this being the first of its kind for us – a 20-foot container office with modern architectural design and open plan layout, specifically modified to  fit the service we offer. In fact, this is a pleasant working environment and I am sure my team at the Ministry would love this contemporary architecture. 

Today, over a year later, despite being thrown in the deep end by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still forging ahead. We are still investing in initiatives that we know matter to Fijians. And that’s why this project, valued at $20,000, is more than an investment in an office space -- it’s an investment in the maritime sector and our service to Fijians. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,In our commitment to validate the phrase “No Fijian is left behind”, the opening of this new office is certainly the progression of Government’s interest in ensuring that every seafarer living along the Lami to Serua corridor and all its surrounding islands can access our services without having to travel all the way to Suva.

We also have a sizable cluster of maritime operator’s right here in Pacific Harbour -- which means they too can greatly benefit.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am sure you’ll all agree that decentralization of services has a positive impact.
In decentralizing services such as ship clearance to outer stations like this, we are determined to increase effectiveness in service delivery.  It also provides MSAF with the early signs of potential challenges faced by Fijians in areas that we serve in for a quick remedial action.

Fiji is a maritime nation and there is a need for better surveillance of ships, especially in our coastal areas. To protect our border for unwanted immigrants and to protect our valuable marine resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you may be aware, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport is responsible for the Government Shipping Franchise Scheme, which is a Government subsidized service. The Fijian Government allocated a budget of $2.6 million to private vessel operators and government shipping services this financial year to serve 10 uneconomical routes -- more than 80 franchise ports.

We want to connect as many Fijians and goods and services across our islands. This is why we introduced an additional route -- Beqa, Yanuca and Vatulele, which began its maiden voyage in February, this year.

This service is made to 14 villages with a population of 2,050 people (Beqa: 1,000, Yanuca: 200 and Vatulele: 850) ensuring our people in the island communities have access to transport services for movement of both passengers and important cargo.

So, you see we are not only focusing  our efforts through MSAF, but also through the provision of shipping services in surrounding islands in the Lami to Serua corridors. And we must look at it holistically to ensure all arms of the maritime sector work and complement each other.

The MSAF vision is enhancing shipping and to have cleaner seas. To achieve this vision, I request our stakeholders to be proactive and to keep abreast with all laws and regulations pertaining to the International Maritime Organisation instruments that Fiji has ratified.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since, this office will be serving our locals living along the coastal areas of Pacific Harbour, I am strongly advocating on safety and the need to follow and adhere to safety rules that are in place. 

Statistics from the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre (FMRSCC) managed by the Republic of Fiji Navy, recorded a total of 64 search and rescue operations last year alone. Of this figure, five cases were from this area. From the cases reported, FMSRCC spent approximately ninety thousand dollars on these operations. One hundred and sixty-five 165 persons were rescued, 52 were self-rescue and 11 have been declared missing at sea.

What this means is, a resources need to be deployed each time there is a search and rescue mission as lives are in danger and safety has been compromised.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleading with all our seafarers, boat masters and members of the public living in this area, please do take boat safety seriously, ensure your boats are surveyed and inspected regularly, and that your boats meet the highest safety standard.

Pacific Harbour, as we all see, is the tourism hub of the Central Division, surrounded by vast ocean and other water sources. So, it is equally important for every boat owner, master or ship operator to take safety seriously because accidents can occur within split seconds.

Chair, Board Members, CEO, the opening of this new office means meeting the increasing demand and expectations of the members of the public and the maritime industry. An office is only a physical space, it’s how you serve the people that truly matters.

I thank everyone who has been involved in making this happen.

With these few words I now declare the MSAF Pacific Harbor Office open.

Thank you and vinaka vakalevu.