SOLOMON Islands Maritime Safety Administration will get tough on the types of vessels purchased into the country.

This came after the office found that there are lots of fishing boats being used for passengers and cargos in the country.

Officer in charge of Operation Safe Boat – 2016 from SIMSA office, Mr Derek Saru recently told this paper that as of next year they will go hard on that and that ship-owners are to be aware of this.

He said “that means there will be no other type of boats allow by the marine to operate passengers and cargo services except for only passengers and cargo boats”.

Mr Saru said as has been experienced there are some boats built intentionally for fishing purposes which have been brought over and converted into passenger and cargo boats.

He assured that this practice is breaching the marine regulation, and this is where marine authorities will stand to implement the law.

“Because when using fishing boats or other for passengers and cargos when they are not builds intentionally for that purpose, the safety of the boat is at a very high risk of experiencing sea incidents,” he said.

Mr Saru appealed upon the ship-owners or anyone who is thinking of purchasing ships into the country to consult their office and discuss the idea with them.

He said SIMSA can help you on area as they can guide and lead you to purchase vessels base on your commercial interest and relevant to the law as well.