Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) has maintained its stand that it will not accept the Tongan registered vessel MV Sitka into the country’s water.
SIMSA director Captain Tim Harris reiterated this after reports has emerged that the vessel has been salvaged from the reef off Kadavu in Fiji.
The boat was on its way to Solomon Islands via Fiji when it ran aground.
MV Sitka was bought by Member of Parliament (MP) for Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) via Ocean Marine Company.
Reports said, the vessel is now being refloated after it was salvaged from the reef last week.
A private company known as Cruz Holding sent their barge Banticoot to pull it out from the reef and towed it to Suva, where it remains afloat at the moment.
Its understood that owner of Ocean Marine Company Albert Wong went over to Fiji last month to find ways to salvage the boat.
But SIMSA Director said that vessel will never be allowed to enter Solomon Islands let alone the buyer’s attempts to register it here.
He said that is a Tongan registered vessel so it is a matter for the authorities in Tonga to deal with.
He said sometimes on February this year MP for MOI Martin Kealoe and Ocean Marine approached their office in their interest to bring over MV Sitka, which they refused.
Harris added they never even invited SIMSA to inspect the vessel before it sails for the country.
Therefore SIMSA will not be going to deal with the vessel and will not accept it to enter Solomon Islands.
He added, MV Sitka is 54 years old, thus have poor conditions and unseaworthy to be use in Solomon Islands, as it will risk the lives of people here and would add to the piles of debris along the shoreline.
Mr Harris reiterated that public must understand that registration of vessel to operate in Solomon Islands lies under the authority of SIMSA, therefore any ship buyer who does not comply with its rules will not be allowed to bring his/her vessel over and have it registered.
By AATAI JOHN