News

MV Liahona II in distress in Kadavu waters, passengers onboard

April 19, 2019 12:55 pm

An inter-island ferry that departed Suva for Kadavu last night is in distress with passengers and cargo onboard.

South Island Shipping’s MV Liahona II is believed to have lost its ramp and is now taking on water.

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This has been confirmed to FBC News by the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre adding that it’s the ramp on the front of the vessel.

The Rescue Coordination Centre says the inter-island ferry is currently in the Kadavu waters, with over hundred passengers on board.

Meanwhile, the Navy’s RFNS Kikau has been deployed with a crew including medical personnel and are assisted by the Volunteer First Responder team.

The Centre says the distressed vessel is maintaining a slow & steady course for Kadavu with an aircraft overhead monitoring the situation.

The Centre says it’s in intermittent contact with the captain of the vessel due to the unfavorable weather condition currently being experienced.

FBC News also contacted the South Island Shipping who confirms that it has not been able to contact the vessel yet.

The South Island Shipping is an inter-island ferry operator carrying both passengers and cargo, servicing the islands of Burelevu, Maceva and Kadavu.

FBC News can confirm the vessel recently resumed operations a week ago after it underwent repair work at the Fiji Ships repair berth.

Liahona II undertaking repair works on April 9th at the Fiji Ships Repair Berth.

Stay with us as we bring you more information as the situation unfolds.