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Authorities in French Polynesia impound a Chinese fishing boat after its owner refused to save another of his boats that ran aground in July.
The government’s unprecedented decision to seize Ping Tai Rong 316, which belongs to the Ping Tai Rong Ocean Fishery Group, was approved by the Papeete courts.
Ping Tai Rong 49 stuck on Anuanurunga atoll
Photo: supplied the French Armed Forces
The action is an attempt to secure $ 5 million in assets, if the Ping Tai Rong Ocean Fishery Group does not comply with an earlier order to cover the costs of removing Ping Tai Rong 49 from the atoll d ‘Anuanurunga.
The seizure is contested in court.
In July, the 40-meter-long Ping Tai Rong 49 struck the uninhabited atoll, located about 720 kilometers southeast of Tahiti, as it traveled in bad weather at night from the Cook Islands to waters near Pitcairn.
The ship was carrying around 120,000 liters of fuel, which prompted the immediate dispatch of a French navy team to contain a possible oil spill.
Investigators found the longliner had faulty radar and used an incomplete map when it struck the atoll at cruising speed.
The ship’s captain and another crew member were brought to justice in Papeete on charges of causing marine pollution and violating navigation protocols.
Pending trial, they were released last week and were to leave Tahiti on the Ping Tai Rong 316, but stopped by the seizure of the ship.
In March last year, another Chinese fishing vessel ran aground on the reef of Arutua Atoll, also in the Tuamotus.
The Shen Gang Shun 1, which had shark meat on board while cruising through a shark sanctuary, was abandoned by its owners.
Attempts to bail out the rusty ship have been unsuccessful as legal avenues are underway to hold them to account.
These incidents prompted the Polynesian government to consider adopting a local law that would prohibit certain ships from passing through the territory’s exclusive economic zone.
Although France is responsible for maritime surveillance, Transport Minister Jean-Christophe Bouissou said local law could refer to navigation safety and the risks of environmental impact.
The minister said another option would be to develop an alarm system using satellites to track the movements of Chinese ships across the atolls of French Polynesia.
He said action was needed because the government cannot afford to spend millions dismantling and removing wrecks and having to hunt their owners for compensation.
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