Fiji’s Maritime Coordination Centre (JRCC Fiji) has coordinated two incidents involving yachts in Fijian waters in the past two weeks. In the first incident a yacht ran aground on the reef at Moce Island in the Lau Group prompting officials to urge sailors to take extra precautions when navigating through Fijian waters. In the second incident the Fijian Navy was tasked to assist a yacht which was experiencing rudder and propeller issues southeast of Kadavu.

Published 1 month ago

Source:  Republic of Fiji Navy

Recovery Operation Ongoing

The Republic of Fiji Navy (RFNS) vessel Savenaca was assigned late night June 27/28 to assist a yacht that was approximately 80 nautical miles southeast of Kadavu. The yacht was experiencing issues with a defective rudder and fouled propellers. RFNS Savenaca located the yacht early in the morning and began the towing operation. The recovery operations is still ongoing, with an expected arrival in the next one to two days.

Successful Search and Rescue Mission

A successful coordinated search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted in the early hours of Monday, June 16, 2025, by the villagers of Nasau on Moce Island in the Lau Group. They located and rescued a 66-year-old lone sailor whose yacht had run aground. The yacht had departed Neiafu, Tonga, bound for Savusavu. After failing to reach his destination, the sailor’s wife, who is in France, alerted the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) Fiji Navy.

It was discovered that the yacht had broken its mast and had run aground on a reef off Moce Island. RCC Fiji reached out to the villagers of Nasau, who promptly deployed two fiber boats to rescue the sailor. A confirmation flight conducted the following morning located the yacht firmly within the reef. The solo sailor, who was in shock but relieved to be rescued, was treated by medical personnel and was to be taken to Suva and then onwards to France.

“We would like to thank the villagers of Nasau, Moce, for their prompt action and support, which ensured that the rescue was conducted safely and effectively,” said the RFNS on their Facebook page. “ We also urge mariners to take extra precautions when navigating through Fijian waters, and to monitor potential navigation hazards and weather conditions. A big thank you to all those involved.”

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Related Links

• Republic of Fiji Navy – Facebook
• Rescue Co-ordination Centre Fiji – Facebook

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