Six derelict ships found partially submerged around the Suva harbour have been removed early last week.

Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited Chris Marshall confirmed that FPCL had contracted the removal of these disused ships to a private company.

Of the six, another two were found located closer to the King’s wharf where the Navy has been contracted to remove one of them. Marshall said the work will take a bit of time as the country only has four lifting bags so once the Navy completes its work then the contracted company will complete lifting the final one.

He said these sunken ships have been a growing concern not only to the marine environment but to human activity due to the discharge of unwanted wastes into the ocean.

Meanwhile, on improving the image of the Suva and Lautoka ports particularly for the tourists disembarking from cruise liners, Marshall replied that work will be done in terms of cleaning and tyding up the ports area.