What does it look like for Australia to be a Partner on Maritime Safety with the Pacific

Contributors: Anthony Bergin National Security College, Bekir Sitki Ustaoglu International Maritime Organization, Daryl Attwood Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Dii Mek Thomas Pacific Community, Neil Baird Baird Maritime, Nurur Rahman Hannur Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd, Olivia Swift Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Omirete Tabureka Pacific Community, Ore Toua Pacific Community, Peter Nuttall Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport, Phillip Solaris X-Craft, Remko Hottentot Lloyd’s Register, Roberta Weisbrod Worldwide Ferry Safety Association, Sesoni Komaisoso Maritime Safety Authority Fiji, Sooyeob Kim UNESCAP, Sophie Hazelhurst Pacific Maritime Safety Programme, New Zealand

EDITORS: Heather Wrathall AP4D Program Lead Kate Archer AP4D Editorial Panel Melissa Conley Tyler AP4D Executive Director

Ships and seafaring are fundamental Pacific traditions, but Pacific Island countries have the most expensive shipping in the world, the longest transport routes, and often the oldest and least energy efficient ships. Given that the ocean is the most significant geographical feature of the Blue Pacific continent, access to safe and reliable transport is a crucial societal need and an important enabler for many of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Efficient, safe, affordable and accessible transportation systems not only promote economic productivity and create jobs but can increase access to employment, recreational and other essential life-shaping opportunities that enable people to improve their living conditions and escape poverty. Predictable trade flows facilitated by reliable and timely shipping services contribute to improved food security, especially in remote or outer island communities.

Domestic Pacific shipping fleets are often in very poor repair. Political and commercial pressures, ineffective compliance and enforcement, and a lack of supply and servicing capability for machinery and lifesaving equipment mean that Pacific Island countries are often trapped in a vicious cycle of old, badly maintained vessels being replaced by more of the same. Tragically, the region experiences the highest per capita fatality rate in the world from maritime incidents, many of which could have been prevented with adequate investment.

There is a clear, urgent need to upgrade domestic vessels in the region to ensure all Pacific peoples have access to safe maritime transport.

This must be balanced with a regional desire for a fossil fuel free Pacific, which will require decarbonisation of fleets. Some within the region fear that bigger nations will transition to zero or low carbon vessels while leaving the Pacific stranded with aged, inefficient and increasingly expensive-to-operate fleets. The Pacific will need ongoing support from international partners to realise its ambitions for decarbonisation.

While there are commonalities in needs across the region, Pacific Island countries are diverse in personnel, capacity and finances, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to maritime safety in the Pacific. It is crucial that solutions are tailored to specific countries’ circumstances and priorities.

Australia is a committed maritime partner with the Pacific. Improving domestic passenger safety is a priority need for the Pacific that Australia supports – it has a mutual interest in ensuring that the ships in the region are seaworthy, have competent crews and are able to safely navigate through sensitive marine areas.

There is scope for Australia to build on existing programs and strengthen maritime safety in the region by leveraging the expertise and capacity of regional organisations and other partners.

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