The vessel, the LC Freedom, was detained after it had to be towed to Port Vila when it encountered engine troubles.
The interim maritime regulator, Charlie Maniel, told the Daily Post that the vessel lost engine power and started drifting off Emae last Sunday.
When authorities reached it on a tug boat, it was found to have 136 people on board-- well in excess of the vessel's capacity.
Photo file. Caption: LC Freedom
