Improving essential shipping to and between Small Island States in the Pacific will be the focus point of deliberations for the Small Island States Ministers of Transport and Maritime Meeting which opened in Nuku'alofa today, Wednesday, May 13.

The one-day meeting attended by seven Ministers from Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu with representatives from Niue, and Wallis and Futuna will submit recommendations to the Second Ministers for Maritime Meeting to be opened on May 14 in Nuku'alofa.

The Manager of the Regional Maritime Program of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) John Hogan in his opening address said improved shipping services had been high on the Forum Leaders agenda.

He said the Pacific Plan had prioritised shipping services, and leaders of the region's Small Island States has been searching for a longer-term solutions to the shipping needs of the smaller regional members.

SPC's Regional Maritime Programme had been working closely with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to explore and facilitate solutions to the region's shipping needs. One short-term solution explored is the establishment of a number of sub-regional shipping services between members linking to larger ports, while longer-term solutions are explored, he added.

"The Pacific is a maritime region and shipping provides our lifeline. Without regular and affordable shipping services, the region's trading and economic survival will be continually under threat," he said.

The Ministers in their deliberations will look at efforts to implement sub regional and broader regional solutions to shipping thus develop more appropriate and sustainable shipping operations in the region.