Project for Construction of the Inter-Island Vessel for Outer Island Fishery Development

OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT

In Tuvalu, whose atolls are scattered over about 700 km from north to south, all domestic and international shipping was handled by a single government-owned passenger-cargo vessel. The vessel was used to transport people and goods between the islands, for emergencies, for taking secondary school students to school, and for voyages to Fiji. However, having carried all transport alone since entering service in 1988, it could not undergo sufficient inspection and maintenance, and frequent breakdowns made scheduled operation impossible. This project built a new passenger-cargo vessel, aiming to ensure the smooth movement of Tuvalu's approximately 10,000 people between the islands and the transport of goods, including fish.