The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji will come down hard on any vessel that is found overloading passengers during the festive season.

MSAF says this has been an ongoing issue from previous years and strategies are in place to ensure that vessel owners are taken to task if they are found to have broken rules.

MSAF Acting Chief Executive, Captain Philip Hill, says their officers have been reminded to be on the look out for the safety of the public.

“We are working on 24/7 shifts especially at the Natovi and Suva however enforcement officers are also available at other jetties .They know the schedule and they are always there to ensure the loading and the process of embarking and disembarking are done in the safe manner and passengers are according to the limit that is stated in the survey certificate.”

Meanwhile, Captain Hill had also reminded passengers that only those issued with a boat ticket are allowed into the embarking area.