The Republic of Fiji Navy or Fijian Navy is the naval branch of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The Fijian Navy was established after Fiji ratified the recently created 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.[1] The Convention established that maritime nations had an Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 kilometres, which extended Fiji's waters twentyfold, from 50,000 square miles (130,000 km2) to over 1,000,000 square miles (2,600,000 km2), necessitating a more substantial naval force to enforce Fijian jurisdiction and protect economic activity in the Fijian EEZ.
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Fiji was provided three Pacific Forum patrol vessels, designed and built by Australia, so its Pacific Forum neighbours could police their own sovereignty.
Captain Humphrey Tawake is the current Chief officer of the Fijian Navy.[2][3]
- RFNS Kula (201), Pacific Forum patrol vessel, in use since May 1994
- RFNS Kikau (202), Pacific Forum patrol vessel, in use since May 1994
- RFNS Kiro (203), Pacific Forum patrol vessel, in use since October 1995
- RFNS Volasiga, oceanic survey vessel donated by South Korea, in use since 2019[4][5][6][7]
- RFNS Kacau, hydrographic survey vessel donated by China, in use since 2019,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Fiji's largest vessel, with a crew complement of about 30[15]
- RFNS Savenaca (401), the first of two Guardian-class patrol vessels, to be built in Australia[1]
- RFNS Puamau (402), the second Guardian-class patrol vessel, commissioned in 2024[16]
"New Guardian-class Patrol Boat - RFNS Savenaca to boost patrol on Fiji's EEZ". Government of Fiji. 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2020-03-08. "It was following Fiji's ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that the Fijian Navy was first formed and shortly thereafter, the Australian-Pacific Patrol Boat Program came to be. The program has been a pillar of regional security, showing that secure Fijian waters mean secure waters for every nation in our patch of the Pacific.
Lisa Simcock (2020-03-06). "Austal (ASX:ASB) delivers 6th guardian-class patrol boat to Fiji Navy". The Market Herald. Retrieved 2020-03-07. 'Our warmest congratulations go to Prime Minister Bainimarama, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto and the Chief of Navy Captain Humphrey Tawake on the handover of this impressive new ship, the RFNS Savenaca,' he added.
Felix Lesinaivalu (2019-07-03). "Economic development 'important for security'". Government of Fiji. p. 12. Retrieved 2019-10-26. He said the provision of RFNS Savenaca and RFNS Volasiga would enhance the Naval Division capabilities when it comes to Fiji's vast EEZ. "The allocation of $1.1 million for the recruitment of 40 personnel to operate the two vessels is, therefore, timely."
"Supplement to the 2019-2020 budget estimates" (PDF). Republic of Fiji Ministry of Economy. 2019-06-07. p. 118. Retrieved 2019-10-26. A budget of $2.4 million is provided for the Unit for the operational expenses in 2019-2020 financial year. This included new funding of $363,102 for the recruitment of 15 personnel for manning of RFNS Volasiga; which is donated by the Republic of Korea (ROK) under the Fiji Hydrographic Office (FHO) and Korean Hydrographic Oceanography Agency (KHOA) bilateral partnership.
"New vessel enhances Fijian navy's capabilities". Pacific News Service. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2019-11-02. He said the project was initiated by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army-Navy, 'who saw fit to donate a vessel of such a magnitude because of the role we have in Fiji not only that, but also maritime security in the region'.
"China commissions RFNS Kacau to Fiji Navy". Citizen Journalism Fiji. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-11-02. This comes after China's commitment in the Pacific for additional capability building, protection of Fiji's resources and security. Royal Fiji Navy thanked the People's Republic Of China for the assistance.
"中国造新型双体水文船抵达斐济,将加入斐济海军" [China twin body hydrological ship arrives in Fiji and will join Fiji Navy]. 环球时报热点 (in Chinese). 2018-10-08. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2019-11-02. 解放军海军与斐济海军间的培训合作持续大约四个月,RFNS Kacau号正式的移交日期将定在今年圣诞节前完成。斐济总理姆拜尼马拉马在苏瓦瓦鲁湾的斯坦利布朗海军基地参加了接舰仪式并感谢船员们的努力和付出。