Vt10 million expected cost of ship salvage

At least Vt10 million will be required to contract a salvage company to re-float the half-submerged MV Lycianda that was abandoned on Iririki.

The estimated amount was alleged to Daily Post by a contractor in marine salvage business.

A very reliable source in the Ports and Harbour Department also alleged that two salvage companies have submitted quotes to salvage the vessel and both quotations are over Vt10 million.

Relevant Ports Acts places the responsibility of meeting salvage and disposal costs on shipowners.

According to Ports Act, “Should any vessel or part thereof, timber or other thing be sunk or stranded in any port, the master or owner thereof shall upon the receipt of an order to that effect from the harbour master, and within such time fixed in such order, clear the port of such vessel, timber or other thing, and all parts of the same, and of the cargo or ballast of such vessel, and should the master or owner aforesaid fail to comply with such order the harbour master may direct the removal of such vessel or part of the same and cargo or ballast thereof, timber or other thing at the expense of the owner thereof”.

“No person other than owner may destroy wreck without permission:

“No person other than the owner shall destroy or demolish or interfere with any wrecked or stranded vessel or any part thereof within the limits of a port without the permission of the owner thereof or of the harbour master given under section 19.”

It is understood that the Ports Act is currently being reviewed in order to properly cover such incidents.

Our source from Ports and Harbour alleged that the owner of MV Lycianda, David Sandy who is understood to be living overseas has been contacted but it is yet to be confirmed if he is capable of meeting the cost.

Despite the Act the government could step in to meet the cost of salvage and disposal in certain cases with the understanding that the shipowner must later refund the government.

This practice is also risky for the government.

Meanwhile concerns have been raised about the ship being left with its stern half-submerged with allegation signs of fuel spill is noticed in the harbour.

According to the Ports Act the responsibility of keeping a vessel in a sea worthy condition is entirely placed on the ship masters who are the captains and also the ship owners.

The Act gave the Principal Licensing Officer the power to order a survey of the vessel and, if he considers that the vessel is unfit so to proceed, he may order the detention of the said vessel.

But the Act also holds vessel owners, masters or bosuns responsible to report any damage or accident at the earliest opportunity.

Daily Post has been told that it is in the best interest of every vessels that owners should let masters or captains take the responsibility of loading passengers and cargoes.

In the case of the abandoned MV Lycianda, there has been no crew seen on the ship for almost an year and the owner has failed to notify the responsible authorities about its condition that resulted in it sinking.

Our source from Ports and Habour stress the importance of operating ships in the country that people interested in the shipping business should posses some knowledge about shipping to avoid unnecessary situations.

Inter-coastal shipping is an important sector in Vanuatu being the most reliable mean of transportation for majority of the ni-Vanuatu population.