The Solomon Islands has launched a national action plan to accelerate the decarbonisation of its domestic shipping sector and modernise maritime infrastructure, marking a significant step toward meeting the country’s climate and development goals.

The Solomon Islands Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Future: Charting the Course Towards Greener Shipping and Ports was unveiled on 26 November in Honiara during the Sixth Ship Operators’ Workshop, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The launch was officiated by Allan Lilia, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development of Solomon Islands, and attended by government agencies, ship operators, industry representatives and development partners.

"Maritime transport is the lifeline of the Solomon Islands," Lilia said. "Our Plan provides a practical roadmap to improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability while safeguarding our ocean environment for future generations."

Developed by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) with technical support from the IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme, the National Action Plan outlines short-, medium- and long-term measures to upgrade vessels and ports, strengthen operational and port-side energy efficiency, introduce low- and zero-carbon technologies, build institutional capacity, improve data systems and mobilise financing for pilot projects.

The Solomon Islands Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Future mentions that the inter-island mobility of people and carriage of cargo relying heavily on fossil fuels, leading to high operational costs. The average age of the domestic fleet of 160 vessels registered in the Solomon Islands is 24 years, with 38% over 30 years old. And as around half of the fleet will need replacing over the next two decades — a period during which the population is expected to double — the renewal of the ageing fleet is seen as an opportunity for domestic shipping to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

SIMA will coordinate implementation in partnership with relevant ministries, the private sector, and development partners.

Gyorgyi Gurban, IMO Head of Projects Implementation, commented: "The National Action Plan demonstrates how targeted support, local expertise, and global partnerships can drive climate action in Small Island Developing States."

"The Plan reinforces the Solomon Islands’ commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and aligns with the country's national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions," IMO said.

GreenVoyage2050 is a technical cooperation programme initiated by IMO to assist developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. Now in its second phase (2024-2030), the programme supports developing countries in designing and implementing national GHG-reduction strategies and piloting low-carbon technologies, with funding from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.