JICA helps repair SIMA boat following damages to it in November Riots

The Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA)’s working boat has been repaired by joint effort of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and SIMA since July 2022.

The boat was severely damaged during the civil unrest in November 2021. The boat was set on fire and the engines were stolen by rioters.

The boat is essential for SIMA’s capability to deploy and conduct hydrographic surveys and other missions involving work along the coast. The boat repair was urgent to start the SIMA-JICA “Project for Development Support of Electronic Navigational Charts in Honiara and Noro Ports in Solomon Islands”.

On 27 October, the work to fix the damages and re-equip the boat have been completed. Joint efforts and resources from SIMA and JICA made it possible but JICA was an essential partner for the boat repair that SIMA would not have achieved alone.

Mr. Takeshi WATANABE, the representative of JICA Solomon Office, commented, “The boat plays an essential role in the Project and we are pleased to see the boat back for its deployment. The cooperation between Solomon Islands and Japan to repair the boat was a great opportunity to work together and deepen our collaboration toward the same goal of the Project.”

Mr. Thierry NERVALE, Director SIMA responded, “We are grateful for Japan’s generous support of the boat repair. It gives a boost to SIMA’s deployment capability and a precious tool for all missions contributing to safety of navigation in Solomon Islands.”

The boat will be used for the hydrographic surveys of Honiara and Noro Ports during the Project. The survey in Honiara is scheduled to commence early November and will be jointly conducted by Aero Asahi Corporation (AAC) (JICA’s contractor) and SIMA.