MSAF deploys more staff to the North as part of its disaster response post Cyclone Yasa
MSAF deploys more staff to the North as part of its disaster response post Cyclone Yasa
[image: MSAF]
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji has deployed additional staff to its Nabouwalu Office as part of their disaster response post Cyclone Yasa.
MSAF Chief Executive Officer Simon Gravenall says their staff had to go above and beyond to ensure relief supplies reached every Fijian affected by the cyclone as soon as possible.
He says they have had an increase in shipping tempo over the normally busy Christmas period in addition to cyclone response teams and repair personnel.
RNZ
24 December, 2020, 10:39 pm
Ruined homes at Votua Village in Lekutu in the wake of TC Yasa. Picture: JOSAIA RALAGO
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji has lifted restrictions that were placed on ships and vessels since last Wednesday. The restrictions came ahead of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa which hit the country last Thursday.
The Category 5 storm left four people dead with the northern island of Vanua Levu bearing the full brunt of Yasa.
However, restrictive travel would remain for the Lau, Kadavu and Lomaiviti groups.
The maritime authority said any travels to these islands must be approved by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
Environmental News For The Week Ending 20December 2019
This is a collection of interesting news articles about the environment and related topics published last week. This is usually a Tuesday evening regular post at
GEI (but can be posted at other times).
Please share this article - Go to very top of page, right hand side, for social media buttons.
Note: Because of the high volume of news regarding the coronavirus outbreak, that news has been published separately:
Some of the COVID-19 graphics presented in the above articles have been updated below.
Also, mentioned in two articles near the end of the disease collection is that there is a new strain of the virus circulating in southeast England that is 70% more infectious than the common strain. Since these news collections were assembled, England has locked down London and several European countries have restricted travelers from the country. I expect that we ll have more news on that in this coming week.
PS MEETS WITH SHIPPING OWNERS
23/12/2020
SUVA – Shipping operators have been urged to closely work with authorities and prioritise deployments of relief supplies during the current emergency period.
Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management and National Disaster Controller Mr David Kolitagane highlighted this while addressing shipping operators at a meeting in Suva yesterday.
Mr Kolitagane informed the group that the Government’s two main areas of concern at the moment was the Northern and the Eastern Divisions.
In the coming days, the Government would be deploying more food rations, equipment and some critical assets to these two divisions.
The Copra Shed Marina in Savusavu.
Photo: Supplied/Copra Shed Marina
The restrictions came ahead of Cyclone Yasa which hit the country last Thursday.
The category five storm left four people dead with the northern island of Vanua Levu bearing the full brunt of Yasa.
However, restrictive travel would remain for the Lau, Kadavu and Lomaiviti groups.
The maritime authority said any travels to these Islands must be approved by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
In a public advisory, MSAF chief executive Simon Gravenall said all other maritime transport involving passengers and cargoes could resume.
Savusavu is one of the main ports on Vanua Levu.