LOMAIVITI PRINCESS 2

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Ferry capsized while being towed

Fiji's Maritime Safety Authority has launched an investigation into the Goundar Shipping Ltd. following two incidents involving its vessels. On May 26, one vessel, the 'Lomaiviti Princess VII' ran aground in Ono-i-Lau, and it was towed back to shore by the 'Lomaiviti Princess XII', which also took on board the passengers.after villagers had stepped in to ferry stranded passengers to nearby islands using small boats. The company posted on social media about this incident, saying "GSL Management would like to sincerely thank the people of Ono-i-Lau for your tremendous support following the mishap. "We acknowledge and appreciate your assistance in ensuring the passengers were safely brought ashore.On June 2, the uncrewed 'Lomaiviti Princess II' capsized when it was being towed away from Narain Jetty in Suva by Fiji Ports. The vessel had been tied up at Narain Jetty since 2019. Regarding the sinking, the Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the matter was under investigation and a release would be issued after he receives an update on the matter. An boom to contain oil was laid out around the ship, and the wreck was monitored for any oil leaks.

Ferry capsized in Suva days after grounding incident

The 'Lomaiviti Princess II' hit a reef near Ono-i-Lau island in Lau last week. On the night of June 1, 2025, the ferry has capsized in Suva harbour in the second ferry incident in these waters in just a few days. The ship had developed a list to starboard side with the stern submerged near the Suva jetty in the Walu Bay area and then rolled over and sank, with only the port side still protruding above the water surface. The Maritime Authority of Fiji has placed booms around the vessel to contain any oil spill. The ferries of the Goundar Shipping have encountered a procession of problems and controversies since the company was founded by George Goundar in 2010, including a grounding of the 'Lomaiviti Princess II' in the Maloi Passage in October 2024. Goundar has referred all queries about the latest incident to the Fiji Ports Corporation, while local interests were now calling for a thorough investigation of the Goundar Shipping by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji. Although the immediate situation appeared to be under control, ongoing public concerns regarding Goundar Shipping’s safety record prompted MSAF to prepare for a comprehensive audit of the company’s fleet. This audit aims to scrutinize the operational aspects of all vessels operated by Goundar Shipping. “We are about to carry out an audit to review the operations of this shipping operator—all vessels,” emphasized Cawaki. The grounding of the ferry 'Lomaiviti Princess 6' acquired in 2019, also rendered as 'Lomaiviti Princess VI)'. The grounding had occurred near Ono-i-Lau en route to the Lau Group with passengers onboard, Despite a swift response from officials, villagers in the vicinity took it upon themselves to help ferry stranded passengers to nearby islands using smaller boats. The passengers were successfully transferred off the vessel without reported complaints. The incident has prompted the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) to initiate an investigation following a distress report from the shipping company. The incident occurred just as the MSAF began a safety audit of all Fiji-registered vessels and prompted the authority to launch a full review of Goundar’s safety protocols. In May, a local Ra chief was pleading with the Government to halt the registration and deployment of one of Goundar’s latest acquisitions, the high-speed catamaran 'Captain Inoke' due to safety concerns. Reports with photos: https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/public-call-on-msaf-to-act-on-continuous-ferry-saga/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKrgDZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnJhH9sbGkKjkWC4r-3Gx-I9e-sbiHz0223H5GU7TlS56pqDbs1Z4j1XVMc9_aem_h_ZS-zvstsuALxntVllKiA https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/lomaiviti-princess-ii-capsizes/