Lona Firi Properties Ltd, which owns the three ‘Vietnamese Blue Boats’ seized in Solomon Islands are required to destroy the boats within four weeks.
The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources last Friday to destroy the vessels within four weeks of the signing.
Fisheriey Director Edward Honiwala and representative of Iona Firi Properties Limited, Wale Tobata
Mr Honiwala said the decision to destroy the boats is in line with the High Court’s decision because the boats have failed to pass their sea worthiness examination as confirmed by the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration.
Iona Firi company representative, Mr Tobata said they will inform the Ministry of the proposed date for the destruction.
He said the destruction will take place in Malaita soon.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Police and other relevant Authorities will witness the destruction of the boats once a date is confirmed.
Iona Firi Properties Ltd will be responsible for the destruction of the three boats at no cost to the government.
As agreed, the boats must be destroyed in an environmentally and ecological friendly manner in line with environmental and international laws Solomon Islands has signed to observe.
Further to that oil petrol and any other fuel contained in the boats will be removed by Iona Properties Ltd before the boats are destroyed.
The fisheries director explained that any property including the oil, petrol or fuel that were removed prior to the destruction belongs to the state unless and until they are disposed or sold in accordance with the Agreement.
Photo supplied. Caption: One of 3 Vietnamese Blue Boats captured by Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.