Maritime officials from 10 Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) took part in a series of workshops in Nadi, Fiji (2-10 November), focused on strengthening national frameworks and capacities to implement IMO instruments.
Organized by IMO in cooperation with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), the workshops were held under the IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Leaders Project, which supports Pacific SIDS in strengthening maritime governance and meeting their obligations under IMO instruments.
Strengthening national legislation and flag State capacity
The Regional Workshop on Flag State Implementation (2-4 November) focused on the legal and administrative frameworks needed to implement IMO instruments at the national level.
Participants discussed the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), common findings from audits conducted under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), and approaches to incorporating key IMO conventions into national legislation, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
A key focus was legislative drafting assistance for Tonga and Vanuatu, the Lead Pilot Countries under the SMART-C Leaders Project. With support from the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), both countries have established national legislative drafting working groups to incorporate SOLAS and MARPOL requirements into domestic law.
Participants also examined flag State responsibilities, including ship survey and certification, oversight of recognized organizations and reporting to IMO. Practical exercises and country-level discussions helped identify priority actions to address national implementation gaps. A dedicated session on gender equality highlighted the importance of promoting women's participation in maritime governance.
Enhancing port State control
A Sub-Regional Workshop on Policy and Legal Aspects of Port State Control (5-6 and 9-10 November) brought together officials from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu to strengthen national policy and legal frameworks for port State control.
The programme included onboard training at the Port of Lautoka, providing practical experience in port State control inspections.
About the SMART-C Leaders Project
The workshops form part of the SMART-C Leaders Project's ongoing support to Pacific SIDS in implementing IMO instruments and addressing IMSAS audit findings. The project combines regional knowledge-sharing with targeted legislative and institutional assistance to Tonga and Vanuatu, helping develop practical approaches that can be adapted across the Pacific.
