Thursday, 09 March 2017 12:47

PKE ship barred from Fiji

Written by 
Authorities in Fiji have blocked a ship, carrying palm kernel expeller (PKE) for New Zealand’s dairy industry, from entering its waters to clean its infested hull.

The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) says it won’t allow the DL Marigold, which was ordered out of New Zealand by the Ministry of Primary Industries after divers found its hull invested with barnacles and tube worms.

BAF chief executive officer Xavier Khan said BAF operations team has informed the ship’s agent, Campbell Shipping of its decision.

The BAF media release says D L Marigold, containing load of palm kernel for feeding dairy cows, visited NZ on 4 March, 2017.

“However, the ship was ordered to leave the Port of Tauranga following the discovery by MPI of the carrier’s hull and underwater surfaces being infested with dense fouling of barnacles and with tube worms.

“DL Marigold then intended to come to Fiji on March 10, 2017 just to clean the hull and return to NZ to offload the consignment. “

Rural News understands the PKE shipment belongs to ADM.

Khan says the DL Marigold could cause biofouling resulting in the introduction of invasive aquatic species in Fiji waters.

“This will never be allowed as it would be very devastating for the Fijian marine and aquatic species.”

Steve Gilbert, MPI’s border clearance director says the vessel won’t be allowed back into New Zealand until it can provide proof it has been thoroughly cleaned.

He says it is the first time MPI has ordered an international vessel to leave a New Zealand port for biofouling reasons.

“We were dealing with severe contamination in this case.”

More like this

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.

Editorial: Agri's mojo is back

OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Arable advocacy?

OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter