Puamau grounding The recent grounding and loss of the Fiji Navy ship, RFNS Puamau is attracting many comments. As a captain of some 50 years plus, and also a pilot of more than 40 years, I would suggest that any board of inquiry look carefully at the factors common to these groundings: Years of operating in the waters of Fiji, have taught us never to enter island lagoons through narrow passages with an outgoing rip tide; Many of these passages run at 5/6 knots during their peak and this is enough to turn an incoming vessel across the passage and drive it onto the reef uncontrollably; As pilots, we are warned of the ” press on syndrome ” that in flying can prove to be fatal The same applies to the sea when a captain is reluctant to abandon a plan for fear of ridicule by his seniors , and continues when it would be better not to at that time; and The inquiry needs also to look at if our officers are getting enough sea time..
and not just classroom time. As a fishing captain, I used to average 230 days a year at sea ..
. one has to wonder with budgetary restraints how many days a year our navy captains are given. The sea can be a beautiful friend but also a terrible enemy .
.. not to be taken lightly.
I trust the lessons will be learned ...
by all! Grahame Southwick, Captain Suva Reducing wastage In its submission to the 2024-2025 National Budget the Fiscal Review Committee has identified a number of areas where expenditure can be reduced or wastage can be minimise.
