IMO is supporting Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) in advancing the Pacific One-Maritime Framework (POMF), a regional initiative designed to align maritime safety, security, capacity-building and equitable access to shipping across the Pacific region.
The Framework and its draft Implementation Plan was the focus of the 4th POMF Steering Committee Meeting (20-22 September) and the 4th Heads of Maritime Meeting (23 September), organized by the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji.
Representatives from 13 Pacific Island countries*, alongside regional partners**, participated in the events, which were supported through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP).
During the meetings, IMO presented the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), including regional findings and preparations for the second audit cycle with the introduction of the IMSAS Continuous Monitoring Mechanism (ICMM). The meetings were updated on the recently established Regional Presence Office (RPO) for the Pacific in Suva, Fiji, and the new ITCP Programme Structure for the 2026-2027 biennium which will strengthen IMO's capacity-development delivery and regional engagement.
The POMF initiative seeks to support Pacific Island countries and their partners in aligning technical assistance needs with IMO's cooperation programme.
By supporting the POMF, IMO is helping ensure that maritime assistance in the Pacific is better coordinated, targeted to national needs, and contributes to safer, cleaner and more resilient shipping across the region.
*Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (Chair of HOM), Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands (Chair of POMF Steering Committee), Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
** Australia, Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union in the Pacific, Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facilities (PRIF), Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), South West Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SWPHC), United Kingdom in the Pacific, British High Commission Suva-(BHCS), Maritime New Zealand and World Bank.
