The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji received a timely boost today.
Specialised equipment has been donated by the New Zealand government to assist MSAF to response efficiently to oil spills.
“With the increase maritime trade locally and regionally the possibility of an oil spill in Fiji waters is very high in this regard the protection of our marine environment from accidental oil spill cannot be overstated. The primary purpose of responding to marine oil spills is to minimize negative impacts on the marine environment also coastal communities our tourism industry and Fiji’s economy as a whole.” said Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Lorna Eden.
Improving the response to oil spills was a priority area identified last year which the New Zealand government and MSAF have worked together to achieve.
“Today is the culmination of alot of hard work by the partners represented here and a very positive iniative to improve maritime protection resources in Fiji which would allow MSAF to respond to tier 1 and tier 2 oil spill incidents in the four locations of Suva Lautoka, Lau and Levuka.” said New Zealand High Commission’s First Secretary Development, Brendan Sherry.