The newly commissioned RFNS Volasiga is already set to chart the seas.

Fiji’s Navy now boasts six vessels, having only had one in operation two years ago.

Head of Operations Commander Timoci Natuva says they will now be able to step up their border surveillance and monitoring in addition to conducting thorough oceanographic surveys.

The newly commissioned RFNS Volasiga is already set to chart the seas.

“We’ve had interest for example, some initial development currently taking place, for example in Nawi Island up in Savusavu that after they do the development, it needs to be surveyed so those are the areas that we’re working in, working at, places at, in the Lau Group that hasn’t been surveyed in a long time, like Vanuabalavu those areas, the potential is there for cruise tourism as well.”

Prior to this, the Navy had to rely on other countries to assist with border surveillance.

The research vessel RFNS Volasigs is a gift from South Korea.

Worth an estimated $6 million, it’s outfitted with the latest navigation equipment.