Vietnamese blue boats

Solomons plan for boat destruction

The Solomon Star reports the boat is one of three boats that were captured early last year at Rennel's Indispensable reef by the Maritime Police for illegal fishing.

The Supervising Police Commissioner said the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource was responsible for the destruction of the boat and police would assist.

The High Court ruled the three boats be destroyed and two were controversially burned at a passage near Gela, in December.

Solomon Islands government reclaims blue boats

Fisheries Acting Permanent Secretary Feral Lasi confirmed to the Solomon Star on Wednesday the blue boats are now under government custody.

“….yes the boats are now taken back from Iona Firi after they failed to meet the requirements in the MoU,” Lasi said.

“State will now decide for its destruction site,” he added.

He further revealed that since last week, they consulted Taroniara shipyard group for their possible rate to dispose off the boats.

‘Vietnamese Blue Boats’ to be destroyed soon

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.

Blue boats crews’ fine paid

This was confirmed in court on Monday by Immigration Officer Chris Akosawa who appeared on behalf of the matter.
 
He said the total fine of USD$4,300 had been transferred to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) account through the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).
 
Akosawa asked the court for an extension of the detention order for another 14 days to allow the crew members to wait for their flights back to Vietnam.
 
The first four crews will leave the country today whilst the second batch of nine crews will leave on Friday.