Vanuatu maritime authority moves to charge MV Matui captain and owners after ferry sinking

The Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA) announced that it will pursue criminal charges against the captain of the MV Matui and the owners of Tui Shipping Agency following the ferry’s capsizing off Vanuatu’s coast. The regulator states the vessel had never been granted permission to carry passengers and was only licensed for cargo, despite a warning issued on 10 September about over-loading. Tui Shipping Agency, deregistered as a legal business since 2 June, is accused of negligence that led to at least two confirmed deaths and more than 30 people still missing.

VMSA officials say the case falls under Section 108 of the Penal Code and the Shipping Act, potentially resulting in imprisonment for the captain. The Ministry of the Prime Minister said an independent investigation will begin shortly, and it appealed to victims’ families to refrain from revenge. Responsibility for notifying VMSA about the company’s deregistration lies with Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue (VCIR).