The owners of the vessel, the Ba Waqa have confirmed that the boat had started taking in water and the Captain decided to beach the vessel on a reef just outside Viwa Island this morning.
Ba Provincial Holdings Captain Pita Cokomata said the information they have received from the Crew of the vessel is that the Ba Waqa did not run aground and was not sinking as claimed by the passengers who were onboard at the time.
He said it is normal procedure to beach the vessel when it starts taking in water.
According to Cokomata, once the water is pumped out, the vessel will sail on to Nabalebale and return to Lautoka this afternoon.
A Viwa Island vessel picked all the people onboard the vessel Ba Waqa, which had started to take in water this morning.
We can confirm that all the passengers on board were picked up by the Viwa Island resort vessel.
A teacher of Viwa Fijian District School, Kelemedi Cecenayawa contacted us that the crew and other people onboard had started throwing things overboard.
Cecenayawa said the boat was loaded with supplies for their new Health centre.
We spoke to 28 year old Adi Koila Qoro who was on the vessel.
Qoro was with her 8 year old daughter who was on her way to start school and her husband who is a labourer.
She said they are fortunate and thankful that all of them managed to reach land safely.
Adi Koila Qoro said her husband had told her that if anything drastic happens, they should be ready to swim to shore.
She also said all the PWD labourers and the crew are safe and well.
She said they left Waya at about 2 o'clock this morning and were on their way to Viwa.
Assistant Director Police Operations, Erami Raibe confirms that they received a distress call from the Ba Waqa and his officers are now looking into the matter.
Captain made right choice: Vessel owners
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