The Ministry of Finance and Treasury, through the Customs and Excise Division, will work with the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) to audit sufferance wharves to ensure they meet International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) compliance standards.
Minister of Finance and Treasury, Rexson Annex Ramofafia, confirmed this in Parliament on Wednesday while responding to a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommendation during the winding-up of debate on the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Minister Ramofafia said the Ministry will liaise with SIMA to undertake immediate audits on all sufferance wharves to ensure they comply with ISPS security requirements and remain free from illegal activities.
The ISPS Code is a set of international regulations designed to strengthen maritime security against threats such as terrorism. Developed after the 9/11 attacks, the code provides a framework for governments, port authorities, and shipping companies to assess and mitigate risks. Key components include mandatory security plans, the appointment of security officers, and the implementation of three security levels.
It is a compulsory part of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and came into effect on July 1, 2004.
However, Minister Ramofafia acknowledged that applying full ISPS standards at remote sufferance wharves can be “difficult and impractical.”
“Nevertheless, the Ministry, through the Customs and Excise Division, will liaise with SIMA to audit sufferance wharves for ISPS compliance,” he said.
Independent Leader Manasseh Maelanga recently told Parliament that the government should close all sufferance wharves. He argued that the facilities were only permitted to operate temporarily to unload materials for the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and should have been shut down afterward.
The ongoing issue surrounding sufferance wharves has contributed to several ministerial reshuffles. Former Finance Minister Harry Kuma was moved to another ministry, replaced by Trevor Manemahaga, who was later reassigned to the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination.
Ramofafia, formerly Minister for MNPDC, was appointed Minister of Finance and Treasury and continues to hold the portfolio.
