Because of its remoteness and the number of small islands scattered over a vast ocean, the Pacific region relies on Maritime Transport as the lifeblood of its communities. However, the rich marine resources and picturesque landscape of the Pacific attracts an increasing number of international fishing companies and cruise liners, which bring ever-increasing marine traffic through the Blue Pacific.
While this traffic is an economic benefit to many of the Pacific countries and territories, it also represents a risk to safety and places environmental pressure the delicate maritime ecosystems. Pacific nations face a challenging task of encouraging further economic development whilst ensuring adequate safety mechanisms are developed to protect the lives and livelihoods of Pacific people.
Aids to Navigation is one of the most important areas for the safe guidance of ships and vessels across the 28 million km2 of Pacific oceanscape.
The delivery of Safety of Navigation services in the Pacific is essential to achieving energy efficient shipping and enhanced safety, while supporting sustainable development of remote Pacific communities. This requires international technical cooperation and regional collaboration to assist countries in delivering harmonised and standardised safety of navigation systems.
What does this assistance look like in Pacific countries? Take a look at some of the work SPC is undertaking to improve safety of navigation across the region in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
