Maritime transport is widely recognized as crucial to economic development through strong links with trade and sustainable development. In the Pacific region, shipping brings many benefits, mainly through enabling the movement of goods and services and potentially reducing the cost of trade. However, most of the Pacific region faces unique challenges in realizing these benefits due to the vast distances between ports, low trading volumes, small populations, and varying port facilities cause by low investment and inadequate, uncoordinated regulatory frameworks.
Our aim is to assist FICs in improving the shipping services in the Pacific region, as outlined in the Forum Principles on Regional Transport Services, by assistance and technical support to achieve greater coordination, cooperation, efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of shipping services in the region.
The Forum is working towards the overall development and implementation of transport policy in the region, reflecting the priorities determined by Forum Aviation Ministers, Forum Economic Ministers and Forum Leaders, and including those determined under the Pacific Plan which has set the relevant goal as to "enhance and stimulate economic growth" through "improved efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure development and associated service delivery".
The Forum recognises that the general state of the shipping industry in FICs has an impact on the general deliverance and effectiveness of shipping services. On that basis we are working to encourage improvements in the areas of:
• quality and regularity of services (particularly domestic, low-volume routes);
• affordability of shipping services;
• regional coordination to achieve greater affordability and regularity; and
• harmonised training, quality and safety standards across the region.
Key Projects
Regional Maritime Programme
The Forum has provided assistance towards the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Regional Maritime Programme (RMP), on the integration of Port Development in the Pacific. The assistance will be used to integrate port development for improved efficiency and effectiveness of maritime infrastructure so as to improve delivery of port services, recruitment of staff, conduct of workshops and support (travel and services). The Programme will be responsible for the harmonization of maritime safety training and compliance across the region and will have benefits for the entire region through improving coordination and helping to encourage sustainable development that can be achieved through an efficient and effective maritime sector.
Small Islands States (SIS) Shipping Service Initiative
The Forum, jointly with SPC’s Regional Maritime Programme, provided assistance to secure funding for the SIS Shipping Service Initiative. The initiative established an agreement which ensured regular short-term shipping services using Kiribati Shipping Services Limited (KSSL) vessels to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Wallis & Fatuna in compliance with best shipping industry practices.
Pacific Forum Line
The Pacific Forum Line is a multi-government owned shipping company that demonstrates the benefits of regional cooperation between FICs and was born as a result of gross deterioration of shipping services in the Pacific in the late 1970s.
PFL is viewed as an instrument for regional development and autonomy, with a charter that charges the Line with the following responsibilities:
• To ensure regular shipping services.
• To offer a modern service that encourages economic development in the South Pacific region.
• To contain freight rates.
• To operate a viable shipping service.
PFL has become profitable over the years and through maximizing efficiencies they have been able to keep freight rates at realistic levels, helping to foster pacific trade.
