Cook Islands approves National Action Plan for sustainable maritime transport
Image Credit: Cook Islands Tourism, Cook Islands News
The Cook Islands has approved a National Action Plan to establish a coherent policy framework for resilient, safe and sustainable maritime transport, supporting national development priorities and long-term climate resilience.
The National Action Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Transport in the Cook Islands was endorsed by Cabinet in October 2025, following consultations with national stakeholders across government and the maritime sector.
The Plan provides a strategic framework to address both immediate and long-term structural challenges in domestic maritime transport, while setting a clear direction for strengthening safety, reliability, sustainability and economic viability across the sector.
“Maritime transport is the lifeline of the Cook Islands, connecting our people, sustaining trade, and delivering essential goods and services across 15 islands,” said Ms. Sandrina Thondoo, Director of Treaties, Multilateral and Oceans Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. “The National Action Plan provides a clear framework to address immediate challenges the sector is facing and charts a path forward underpinning national resilience, food security, and economic opportunity. It represents not only a plan for vessels and ports, but a broader framework for resilience, equity, and sustainable growth.”
Developed jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management with technical support from the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme, the National Action Plan (NAP) sets out phased actions from 2025 through to 2029 and beyond. These actions focus on fleet and infrastructure improvements, operational and energy efficiency, institutional and data strengthening, and the mobilisation of finance for priority investments. Implementation oversight will be led by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management’s Shipping Coordinator’s Office, in close coordination with relevant ministries, the private sector, and development partners.
Ms. Astrid Dispert, GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager welcomed the cabinet approval stating: “The Cabinet endorsement of the National Action Plan reflects strong national ownership and demonstrates how targeted support, local expertise and global partnerships can help strengthen maritime transport systems and advance climate action in Small Island Developing States.”
GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is a technical cooperation programme initiated by IMO to assist developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.
Now in its second phase (2024-2030), GreenVoyage2050 supports developing countries in designing and implementing national GHG-reduction strategies and piloting low-carbon technologies, with funding from several donor governments including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.
With this milestone, the Cook Islands joins a growing group of partner countries advancing national decarbonization strategies, contributing to a just, inclusive and resilient global maritime energy transition.
