By RANOBA BAOA
A newspaper article quoting MV Lomaiviti Princess owner George Goundar is causing concern amongst other interi-sland ferry operators.
They have called the quoted comments unbecoming of Mr Goundar and one has suggested Mr Goundar should look at his own operations.
The article was published in the Fiji Times last week headlined: ‘Sabotage Claims at Sea’.
Mr Goundar was quoted as saying the possible cause of a fire breaking out on a truck onboard Lomaiviti Princess could be foul play due to the tough inter-island competition.
Venu Shipping Limited owner Ben Naidu told Sun Business Mr Goundar’s accusations were “unbecoming of him” if he was quoted correctly.
He said: “George Goundar’s accusation on sabotaging is unbecoming of a fine person such as himself. This is unethical and unwarranted behaviour, stooping so low that being a sour grape will not bring him glory.
“Furthermore, it is so ironic that he has said what is in his heart and we as local ship owners should be well prepared that the inevitable does not happen to us.”
Venu Shipping’s Sinu-I-Wasa competes with Mr Goundar’s Lomaiviti Princess on the Suva-Kadavu-route. Venu is also preparing the MV Suilven – currently in Suva Harbour – to enter interisland ferry services.
In the absence of Bligh Water Shipping Limited chief executive officer William Vulivuli, a staff member – who spoke on condition of not being named – said:
“Those kinds of comments are uncalled for. He should just wait for the law to make the conclusions.
“There is no substance to those comments.”
Bligh Water operates the MV Westerland between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Raising questions
But another ship owner says that while Mr Goundar is free to say what he wishes, perhaps a more serious matter raises question with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.
Consort Shipping managing director Justin Smith said: “It seems strange that vehicles are not checked and secondly there was no fire detection on the bridge when the fire broke out,”
“Logically he should be working with MSAF for proper security and safety procedures.”
Consort normally operates the MV SOFE in direct competition with Goundar Shipping on the Suva-Koro-Savuasavu-Taveuni route. But the SOFE is currently in Suva Harbour waiting to go to New Zealand for repairs after hitting a reef near Koro.
Attempts to get comments from Maritime
Safety Authority of Fiji on the Lomaiviti Princess incident have been unsuccessful so far.
Hidden motive
In the Fiji Times, Mr Goundar was quoted as pointing out that there could be some motive behind the fire.
“It could be an accident or someone is behind it! I don’t know but it’s something we ought to think of and we cannot take this thing lightly especially if passengers are onboard.
“And the competition that we’re having now and the second vessel coming in next month who knows what’s behind it!
“It could also be tough competition between the truck drivers because it was the first time that the company took goods to Savusavu.”