CHARTER · FIJI

Chartering a boat in Fiji: licence, rules and safety

Last verified: 14 October 2026

LICENCEFiji's Pleasure Craft Regulations (which apply to Fiji-registered pleasure craft) require the owner or operator of a propelled pleasure craft to know basic navigation and the COLREGs and hold at least a Boat Master Licence or an equivalent certificate. Under the Small Craft Code, holders of RYA or US Coast Guard amateur qualifications (or equivalents MSAF recognises) may be issued an equivalent licence without further examination, at MSAF's discretion.

EMERGENCY AT SEACall JRCC Fiji on 911. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Licence and charter rules

Licence: Fiji's Pleasure Craft Regulations (which apply to Fiji-registered pleasure craft) require the owner or operator of a propelled pleasure craft to know basic navigation and the COLREGs and hold at least a Boat Master Licence or an equivalent certificate. Under the Small Craft Code, holders of RYA or US Coast Guard amateur qualifications (or equivalents MSAF recognises) may be issued an equivalent licence without further examination, at MSAF's discretion.

MSAF, Maritime (Pleasure Craft) Regulations 2014 · MSAF, Maritime (Pleasure Craft) Regulations 2014 · Fiji Small Craft Code Regulations 2014 (gazette copy, FAO FAOLEX) ▾

msaf.com.fj (2026-10-14): “These Regulations shall apply to all pleasure craft registered in the Fiji Register of Ships.”

msaf.com.fj (2026-10-14): “The owner or operator of a propelled pleasure craft engaged in Fiji waters must have basic knowledge of navigation and the COLREGs, and hold at least a Boat Master Licence or an equivalent certificate.”

faolex.fao.org (2026-10-14): “Holders of British Royal Yachting Association or U.S. Coast Guard amateur qualifications or equivalent qualification recognised by the Authority maybe issued with an equivalent licence without further examination”

Arriving by boat

Yachts must email the Advance Notification (Form C2C) to Fiji Revenue & Customs Service at least 48 hours before arrival. The UK FCDO lists Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu and Levuka as yacht entry ports; other ports such as Nadi and Denarau need prior agreement.

Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS) · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾

frcs.org.fj (2026-10-14): “Submit an Advance Notification (Form C2C) at least 48 hours before arrival via email: yachtsreport@frcs.org.fj”

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “Yachts can only enter Fiji through Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu and Levuka. For other ports, such as Nadi and Denarau, you must have prior agreement from the Fijian authorities.”

Season and weather

The southwest Pacific tropical cyclone season runs from November to April; cyclones have occasionally formed in October and May and rarely in September and June.

Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi) ▾

met.gov.fj (2026-10-14): “While the TC season in the region is between November and April, occasionally cyclones have formed in October and May and rarely in September and June.”

Forecast: Fiji Meteorological Service issues the marine weather bulletins and tropical cyclone updates; MSAF says they are transmitted by Suva Coast Radio Station (3DP) and also broadcast by commercial radio stations.

Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) ▾

msaf.com.fj (2026-10-14): “Masters must listen to all marine weather bulletins and tropical cyclone updates issued from the Fiji Meteorological Service (www.met.gov.fj) and transmitted through the Suva Coast Radio Station (3DP) and also broadcast through the commercial radio stations.”

Rules on the water

Life jackets: Under Fiji's Navigation Safety Regulations a recreational craft must carry enough correctly sized personal flotation devices for everyone on board, in a readily accessible place. Everyone on board must wear one when tides, poor visibility, rough seas, bad weather, emergencies or other situations make it dangerous.

MSAF, Maritime (Navigation Safety) Regulations 2014 · MSAF, Maritime (Navigation Safety) Regulations 2014 ▾

msaf.com.fj (2026-10-14): “No person in charge of a recreational craft may use a recreational craft unless there are on board, and in a readily accessible location, sufficient personal flotation devices of an appropriate size for each person on board.”

msaf.com.fj (2026-10-14): “circumstances where tides, river flows, poor visibility, rough seas, adverse weather conditions, emergencies or other situations cause danger or a risk to the safety of the person on board, unless every person on board is wearing a properly secured personal flotation device”

Hazards and warnings

There are dangerous rip tides along reefs and river estuaries.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “There are dangerous rip tides along reefs and river estuaries.”

Fiji — Port Denarau: The tropical cyclone season in the south-west Pacific runs from November to April, peaking from January to March; on average about two cyclones affect Fiji each season. The Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi) is the official first-level source of tropical cyclone information for the south-west Pacific.

Fiji Meteorological Service · Fiji Meteorological Service ▾

met.gov.fj (2026-10-14): “The TC season in the southwest Pacific extend from November to April, with the peak TC activities normally experienced from January to March.”

met.gov.fj (2026-10-14): “On average, around two TCs affect Fiji every season.”

Divers

Fiji's only hyperbaric (recompression) chamber is at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, and it is not always working; check its status before diving.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “There’s only one hyperbaric (recompression) chamber in Fiji, at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva. It is not always working. Check its status before scuba diving”

Charter bases in Fiji

Fiji — Port Denarau

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for Fiji Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to do Engine failure: what to do when you lose power Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to do Ran aground? What to do

Frequently asked

Do I need a licence to charter a boat in Fiji?

Fiji's Pleasure Craft Regulations (which apply to Fiji-registered pleasure craft) require the owner or operator of a propelled pleasure craft to know basic navigation and the COLREGs and hold at least a Boat Master Licence or an equivalent certificate. Under the Small Craft Code, holders of RYA or US Coast Guard amateur qualifications (or equivalents MSAF recognises) may be issued an equivalent licence without further examination, at MSAF's discretion.

When is the best time to sail in Fiji, and when is storm season?

The southwest Pacific tropical cyclone season runs from November to April; cyclones have occasionally formed in October and May and rarely in September and June.

How do I clear in when arriving in Fiji by boat?

What is the emergency number at sea in Fiji?

Call JRCC Fiji on 911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.