The government wants all dead ships, or old ships that are no longer working, removed from Port Vila Harbour.

The decision follows an oil spill allegedly from a ship in Port Vila last month endangering marine life.

Due to suspicion and a high chance that the source of the oil spill is from a ship oil leakage, the Minister responsible for maritime has requested the Vanuatu Maritime and Safety Authority (VMSA) to engage in the removal of the dead ships inside Port Vila Harbour.

Inside Port Vila Harbour, especially at the temporary domestic wharf near Ifira Point and Iririki, there are some ships that have not been operating for a long time.

VMSA Commissioner Less Napuati said they will look into how to remove those ships.

“My Minister has requested that I have to get rid of the dead ships,” said VMSA Commission, Less Napuati.

“I will issue a month notice to the shipowners to move their ships, if they fail to comply, funds will be sought from a contractor dispose of the ships,” said Mr Napuati.

This work will help reduce the chances of another oil spill in the future, since the presence of those ships is seen as a risk to the marine environment.

On the oil spill issue, a strong high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea last Friday brought strong southeasterly winds and rough seas into Port Vila Harbour.

These rough sea conditions helped move the oil out of the harbour but at the same time brings an end to efforts to find the source of the oil spill.

“We went back to Ifira. There wasn’t any oil left because nature has taken its cause” said Mr Napuati.

According to Napuati, his team are still contacting tests on the oil samples, but without any eyewitnesses witnessing someone disposing oil, nothing much could be done.

The oil spill was first reported by people from Ifira Island who said they saw signs of oil leakage starting late last year.

An assessment that was carried out revealed that the incident resulted in loss of some marine life in the area, including fish, starfish, and sea cucumbers.