MV Lycianda Grounding
Ship Blown Onto Reef Near Rotuma Off Figi
December 5, 2007
A cruise ship returning from Rotuma was swept onto a reef during tropical cyclone Daman winds.
MV Lycianda was out in Rotuma about 2115 hours (9:15pm) on its way back to Lautoka when it encountered the cyclone and tried to make a run for it.
Lycianda was trying to come out of shelter it had sought in the harbor when strong winds forced the vessel on Onifa reef.
The vessel was blown onto the inner reef inside the harbor at Rotuma at the height of Daman passing over Rotuma. The ship was tossed and unable to resist the winds for the storm.
The ship suffered no damage to its hull, only minor damage to its rudders and propellers. There was no injury to the crew. Only crew was aboard the ship when the incident took place.
The cruise ship was to have picked up passengers when it got caught in the cyclone.
The captain has reported all crew living aboard were well, with no injuries after the storm had passed.
A tug boat is on the way to Rotuma to assist the ship off the reef and will tow the vessel back to Suva for repairs.
Rotuma is a volcanic island of approximately 43 sq. kilometers, located at 12 degrees south latitude and 177 degrees east longitude, approximately 465 kilometers north of Fiji. Only a few thousand people live there.
