The MV Lomaiviti Princess 7, which ran aground on a reef south of Moala Island on Wednesday night, has been successfully towed off the reef following a coordinated rescue and salvage operation.
The Republic of Fiji Navy’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Fiji) confirmed that the towing operation, carried out at high tide this afternoon, was a success. All 245 passengers and 33 crew members, who had earlier been transferred to the nearby vessel MV Lady Daya for safety, have been returned to the Lomaiviti Princess 7. The ferry has resumed its intended voyage, continuing on its planned route, travelling to Totoya and Matuku before returning to Suva.
The successful refloating of the Lomaiviti Princess 7s also brings to an end RCC Fiji’s Search and Rescue (SAR) operation.
“RCC FIJI has terminated SAR coordination for this case, and maritime regulatory aspects including any investigation will be handled by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF),” a spokesperson said.
This marks a safe and efficient resolution to the incident, which began on Wednesday evening when the Lomaiviti Princess 7 ran aground on the reef. RCC Fiji’s initial focus was “to ensure the safety of all lives onboard and ascertain any immediate threat to the environment.”
During the operation, all passengers were temporarily evacuated to the Lady Daya while salvage efforts were underway. According to earlier statements, “all persons [remained] safe with no injuries,” and the ferry’s structural integrity had not been compromised.
No environmental impact has been reported so far.
Photo: Alan Temo/Facebook
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