Explore: Suva
General Info
Suva is the capital of Fiji, located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu. It is the largest city in the South Pacific.
The entrance through the reef is good and wide and marked with day beacons to port and a green buoy to starboard. These are unlit with the exception of the neon blue range lights for the initial approach and transit through the cut. These can be very difficult to see in poor visibility (something that is common in Suva) and a night approach is best avoided. This is a big port with a lot of ships in the vicinity.
Reports from Cruisers who have visited Suva
Position: 18°07.8’S, 178°23.95’E (Suva harbour)
Clearance
Refer to the main Fiji Formalities page for detailed clearance information.
Note: Cruisers clearing into Fiji in Suva and arriving at the weekend will be offered the option by the RSYC of waiting to clear on Monday (so avoiding high overtime charges).
Most boats contact Suva Port Control on Channel 16 on arrival, who immediately advise new arrivals to contact the Royal Suva Yacht Club (RSYC), also on Channel 16/17. Be patient calling the club on the VHF as the radio is situated in the bar area of the club.
All vessels arriving in Suva Harbour are requested by Suva Port Control to anchor in the quarantine area on the offshore (which is close to the RSYC marina) for Customs clearance. Note, that harbour security in this area is the responsibility of the water police and not of RSYC.
The RSYC will arrange for the various agencies to visit the boat, but at times there may be several hours delay (this is a commercial port so ships come first). The crew must not come ashore until cleared. The Club’s rescue boat will transport the officers to clear any waiting yacht(s) in the quarantine area.
All the paperwork is currently taken care of on board – however, the payment of fees has to be done once clearance has been granted, ashore, at the various offices.
The RSYC charge F$60.00 for the transport of the officials to your boat and another F$45.00 per person per month for access to the club.
There are two daily clearance times: Mon – Fri 0900 hrs & 1500 hrs. Yachts arriving after 1500hrs on Fridays will have to wait until the next normal working day or agree to pay the extra charges from these government departments to clear outside normal working hours. Currently, cruisers report that the authorities appear quite happy to delay clearance until normal working hours, but do take a dim view of the crew coming onshore before being cleared.
Yachts arriving at the weekend at Suva have been fined in the past for not notifying the authorities and anchoring at the yacht club until Monday, so be sure to call the RSYC to declare your arrival.
Cruising Permit
This permit is only issued after having cleared it. The permit is free but you must make your own way to the iTaukei Affairs Board which is in the Great Council of Chiefs Complex in the Government complex at 87, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Suva. This road is an extension of Victoria Parade (shown on city ccentermaps). It is about a 3km walk to the government buildings and you need to enter the huge complex at the first entrance which will take you along the side of the building. Then take the first door on your right and someone will direct you. If you ask for the Great Council of Chiefs building, taxi drivers and bus drivers will know what you want.
A permit to visit the Lau group is now automatically included in the cruising permit.
Coastal Clearance is required for all yachts before leaving Suva Harbor. You need to visit Customs to get this, and you should leave within 24 hrs of it being granted. The office is not open at the weekend.
Last updated: May 2018
Docking
The Royal Suva Yacht Club, located in Korovou, in the northern outskirts of the city, is welcoming and has expanded its docking facilities to cater for the increasing number of visitors. The club charges F$50 per night for an alongside berth, when available. There are approximately 2 metres of water at the refuelling dock at high water and the bottom is soft mud. Although it has been reported that it is closer to 1.5m and that the docks are too small for most multi-hulls.
Currently, there are no moorings, you either anchor or go into the marina. Holding in the Anchorage area near the yacht club is patchy, and anchors do get snagged on debris on the bottom. A trip line is recommended. Cruisers report that during a southerly change, the anchorage is not a particularly safe haven, with a commercial anchorage just upwind of where the yachts are moored.
The RSYC charge 10 f$/day for use of the dinghy dock and 3 f$/person for use of the showers. If staying in Suva more than 3 days, it’s more economical to buy a temporary RSYC membership card for one member of the crew at 45 f$.
An alternative anchorage with limited docking is off the nearby Tradewinds Hotel which is also used as a refuge during cyclones. This hotel, however, is now under new ownership, so it is recommended to seek permission before anchoring here.
Tony Philps maintains several moorings (big white buoys) in front of his house and owns a yacht. Those moorings are put freely at the disposition of passing cruisers after paying him a courtesy visit. This protected bay offers a perfect anchorage if one stays a long time in the area (no smells from the public discharge, relatively unpolluted water and calm anchorage).
Security
A robbery (dinghy and outboard) was reported at the anchorage off the RSYC in June 2014. The same boat was broken into on the hard at MISEL a week later. It should be noted that harbor security in the anchorage off the Yacht Club is the responsibility of the Port Police and not of RSYC. However, the Club has requested that the Fiji Port Police do patrol the waters outside the marina, mainly after 22h00.
A long-term liveaboard intercepted two armed borders in January 2017 whilst at anchor and was attacked. See report adjacent.
Last updated: May 2018
