THE Office of the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Authority has warned all ship owners to ensure their ships meet all marine safety requirements before taking to sea.

This warning came following the detention of MV Airi in its trip to Malaita Outer Islands after it was found that the ship did not meet requirements.

Officer in charge of Operation Safe Boat – 2016 from SIMSA office, Mr Derek Saru told this paper yesterday that his office will strictly ensure all boats abide by marine safety regulations.

He stressed that all ship owners must ensure that their shipmasters, engineers and crews must have certain seaman qualifications before working onboard.

Mr Saru pointed out that the areas his office will monitor during this operation will include, valid certificate of competency (renew after every five years), seaman record, qualification from school and medical reports before qualify to be onboard.

He said another area they will strictly monitor will cover the ship’s equipment including life-jackets, life-crafts and other safety equipment in the ship.

Mr Saru also added that every ship owner be reminded that due to the different sizes of boats operating in the country, people working onboard must have certain seaman qualifications to qualify them according to the sizes of the boat.

He said if for instance there is a 2-tonne boat with a similar engine, it requires class two and three shipmaster and chief engineer to be onboard

On the same note, Mr Saru also stressed that there are problems found with many ships when conducting loading at Point Cruz.

Mr Saru said they found out that most loading were conducted without advice by the shipmaster or ship officer who are responsible for loading of the boat.

He stressed that this is a common problem found among every passenger and cargo trip during this operation, and it showed unqualified officers onboard or maybe negligence to duties

“What mostly happened was that the loading usually done by the passengers that it wasn’t their responsibility to conduct the work.

“I saw that with many ships and it is a big risk for the ships and the passengers and it can lead the hip to accident if they don’t careful with it,” Mr Saru said.

He urged all ship owners, shipmasters and passengers to work together with the Operation to make all trips taking in and out of Honiara this Christmas festive to safe and enjoyable to everyone.