19 Jan 2011

Fishing vessel stuck on Vanuatu reef

10:53 am on 19 January 2011

The Vanuatu Tuna Fishing Company says it has been trying for four days to pull one of its vessels off the reef in Port Vila harbour.

The company's director, Christophe Emelee, says the vessel hit the reef on Saturday trying to leave the port because of the passage of cyclone Vania.

Mr Emelee has accused the Vanuatu Maritime Authority and the harbor master of not informing foreign and local vessels about the dangers in harbour following the cyclone.

He says he received no information from the local authority that the cyclone had washed away the green and red guiding lights.

The office of the harbour master has confirmed that Vania washed away four navigational lights - each worth about 2,000 US dollars.