Ba Holdings Limited will now have to fork out a substantial amount of money to salvage the vessel, Ba Waqa which remains grounded on the reef off Viwa Island.

Yesterday, Ba Holdings representative Captain Pita Cokomata had played down the incident saying the vessel was deliberately beached by the Captain, there was nothing wrong with what had transpired and that the vessel would set sail within hours after the water is pumped out.

However, this afternoon Ba Holdings Operations Manager Pauliasi Naivalu confirms that a team has been dispatched to Viwa to assess the situation to pull Ba Waqa off the reef.

Naivalu said they will investigate the incident once the vessel is back at Lautoka wharf and refused to comment further on the matter.

The Captain and crew of the Ba Waqa remain on Viwa Island and are taking shelter in Nabalebale village.

About 26 passengers had to be rescued by villagers of Nabalebale and staff from Viwa Island resort when the Ba Waqa started taking in water and hit a reef off the coast of Viwa.

Police confirm that they will investigate the incident as lives were put at risk.