Dear Editor – For the past 36 years, Solomon Islands’ economic success has been built on its use of maritime transport to trade to our scattered islands with the rest of the world.
Today, almost 99.5% of our external trade and more than 90 % of internal trade go by sea.
Some 90% of the goods traffic to and from the Pacific Islands and Territories (PICTs) is transported by sea.
Like our neighbouring maritime states such as Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu and others, Solomon Islands has adopted a range of rules on maritime safety and security to ensure quality shipping that respects the environment and guarantees an optimal level of protection for its respectful citizens.
In addition, the maritime sector contributes to the competitiveness of Solomon Islands’ business development with effective solutions to the growing mobility of people and goods.
Solomon Islands has adopted rules to protect the environment and promote economic activity.
Operators have benefit from emerging physical infrastructures, equitable and competitive conditions compared with those who do not respect the rules of the game.
Seafarers benefit in terms of employment opportunities aboard ships, working conditions and mutual recognition of quality training.
The Solomon Islands Government (SIG), through Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA), has therefore defined a national strategy intended to make the national shipping fleet safer and competitive, by creating update rules of engagement within the national maritime transport and by means of having proper ships for services, better maritime infrastructures, and of financial supports to shipping sector through Franchise Shipping Services (FSS) that are now providing open access to maritime transport services throughout the country.
For too many years, some potential shipowners have gone overseas and purchased second hand vessels that are not fit for purpose.
And the recent injection of million dollar grants to politicians for purchasing of ships on behalf of their constituents is another ‘shockwave’ sparks the aged shipping fleet in the country.
The reality is that the Ship Investment Feasibility (SIF) studies are not being carried out, and nobody is seriously looking at the optimum fleet required for domestic services in the Solomon Islands.
One particular fear perhaps, is that the danger in continuous pursuit of cheap unsuitable ships will lead to the similar situation as occured in Papua New Guinea in early 2012, where the ultimate cost was not in finance, but in lives.
If it is essential to have rules, it is equally essential that they are applied.
The SIMSA, as a new entity, ensures that rules are reviewed, updated and well look after.
This entity is now fully operational under the purview of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development that able to assist the Solomon Island Government in applying regulations on improving maritime safety, the prevention of and fight against pollution and the quality training of seafarers.
Finally, a recent visit to Honiara by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) officials in April this year and acceding of the IMO’s Conventions into the national law have confirmed the important role of the SIMSA at regional and international level.
With successive enlargements, including the reform of the Marine Division into an ‘administration’ in 2010, Solomon Islands now has a privileged position to have its maritime administration become an ‘independent authority’ to look after these important changes, thanks both to the vast sea of the coastlines and the importance of our maritime transport sector.
Maritime transport in Solomon Islands has the wind in its sails!
Derek Saru
Honiara