1.This Marine Notice serves to remind all ship masters of the vital need of maintaining proper and close communication during close-quarters manoeuvring and in confined or high risk manoeuvring areas including ports and approaches.
2.Recent marine incident reports highlight risks arising from no, inadequate or delayed communication, which can lead to collisions, groundings, or environmental harm.
3.The Maritime (Collision Prevention) Regulations 2014, provides requirements for ships to maintain a proper lookout by sight, and use all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions at all times to make a full appraisal of the situation and to determine if the risk of collision exists.
4.Failure to comply with the above contravenes the Maritime (Collision Prevention) Regulations 2014 and the Maritime Transport Act 2013 and may result in regulatory penalties.
5.For any clarification, please contact the undersigned.
ILIESA BATISARESARE
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji
09 March 2026