The publication of a new electronic navigational charts for Tonga is expected to bring economic and maritime safety benefits to the country.

This is through a partnership between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Pacific governments.

The new charts created used hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, will be vital if large ships are to navigate the reefs and hidden rocks safely.

In addition, it ensures compliance with international maritime regulations.

This meant Navy disaster relief vessels and other large ships will no longer rely on old fashioned plumb lines and charts measuring in fathoms to enter some of Tonga’s waters, as they have done since the 1800s.

Director for Marine and Ports Kelela Tonga said the charts are of great importance for the safety of navigation of all vessels, and its production is a milestone for the future of safe shipping within Tongan waters.

As well as opening up economic benefits for Tonga, the new ENCs will greatly assist New Zealand’s Pacific aid efforts. For the Royal New Zealand Navy (which surveyed Nuku’alofa in 2015 for the project), the ability to assist Pacific Island neighbours in a natural disaster requires significant pre-planning and an up to date knowledge of harbour approaches, port facilities and other potential landing sites.

Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Mat Williams said transporting humanitarian aid, personnel and equipment from New Zealand across the expanse of the South West Pacific to the Islands is the easy part”.

“It is often the last few miles that pose the greatest challenges. To deliver assistance from the sea to those in need means we need complete trust in all the navigational tools at our disposal.

He said getting disaster relief to the right people, at the right time is also key role of the New Zealand Navy in the Pacific. 

“If the worst was to happen, the new ENCs now give us increased confidence in accessing other locations around Tonga for the delivery and distribution of aid.”

In 2019, New Zealand’s High Commissioner HE Tiffany Babington delivered thirty thousand gigabytes of data from the survey work to the Tongan government. 

The data featured never-before seen images of the sea floor, previously uncharted rocks and reefs along with a number of interesting geological features including a small underwater volcano.

Meanwhile, New Zealand through LINZ, is responsible for the production and maintenance of nautical charts for the Kingdom of Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, Cook Islands and Samoa through the Pacific Regional Navigation Initiative (PRNI), which helps these nations to meet their international maritime obligations.