Kiribati Maritime Transport Profile 2026
Outline
KIRIBATI
MARITIME TRANSPORT PROFILE
Supported by:
Maritime assets
Port area in 2025
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Ships built by country of building, annual
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Merchant fleet by country of beneficial ownership, annual
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Trade - Navigation total
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Water transport employment
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Activity
Container port throughput
Port call and performance statistics
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Trade mode share
Port Activity
Trade openness index
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Seafarer supply
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Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Connectivity and performance
LPI
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Liner shipping connectivity index
Port liner shipping connectivity index
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Bilateral liner shipping connectivity index
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Trade cost
Container port performance index
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Remoteness index
Sustainable freight transport index
Percent of firms identifying transport as a major constraint
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Shipping emissions
EDGAR GHG 2025
Transport energy consumption
EDGAR AP 8.1
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GAINS emissions
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Adaptation and resilience
Average annual loss
Port risk
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Investment on ports
Development financing
Private participation in infrastructure
Policy Targets
Increasing transport activity
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan 2021 | 2022 | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030 | 2030 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | 2021 | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030. Low Carbon Mini-Container Ship: This opportunity includes investment in a mini container ship of 80 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to be operated by KNSL. | 2030 |
| KV20 Vision | 2017 | the number of shipping voyages per month will be increased to 30 by 2019 and to 50 by 2036 | 2036 |
Shipping efficiency improvements
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan 2021 | 2022 | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030 | 2030 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | 2021 | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030. Low Carbon Mini-Container Ship: This opportunity includes investment in a mini container ship of 80 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to be operated by KNSL. | 2030 |
| KV20 Vision | 2017 | the number of shipping voyages per month will be increased to 30 by 2019 and to 50 by 2036 | 2036 |
Policy Measures
| Kiribati National Infrastructure Investment Plan 2022-2032 - Project Database | Shipping improvement - General | Bairiki Old Wharf Redevelopment Transshipment hub Kiritimati and Tarawa | 2024 |
| Kiribati Enhanced NDC | Biofuels | use of biofuel blends | 2023 |
| Kiribati Enhanced NDC | Development of climate change/ low carbon plan/ policy | National Action Plan for Decarbonising Maritime Transport | 2023 |
| Kiribati Enhanced NDC | Development of shipping/ maritime/ inland water transport (IWT) plan/ policy | National Action Plan for Decarbonising Maritime Transport | 2023 |
| Kiribati Enhanced NDC | Green shipping program | operationalising low-carbon vessels | 2023 |
| Kiribati Enhanced NDC | Shipping efficiency improvements | fuel efficient outboard motors | 2023 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan 2021 | Green shipping program | National Action Plan for Decarbonising Maritime Transport. Low Carbon Mini-Container Ship: This opportunity includes investment in a mini container ship of 80 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to be operated by KNSL | 2022 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan 2021 | Shipping efficiency improvements | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030 | 2022 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan 2021 | Shipping improvement - General | Small Low Carbon Cargo/Passenger Freighter. implementation of a pilot ‘zero impact' small scale cruise liner with capacity of 40-50 passengers | 2022 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | Biofuels | Biofuel Blends in Land and Maritime Transport: e import and use of biofuel blends for diesel and petrol, and the construction of necessary infrastructure to enable the use of these fuels | 2021 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | Development of climate change/ low carbon plan/ policy | National Action Plan for Decarbonising Maritime Transport: e provision of technical assistance for the preparation and implementation of a coordinated national level action plan for decarbonising maritime transport, including for lodging with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) | 2021 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | Development of shipping/ maritime/ inland water transport (IWT) plan/ policy | National Action Plan for Decarbonising Maritime Transport: e provision of technical assistance for the preparation and implementation of a coordinated national level action plan for decarbonising maritime transport, including for lodging with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) | 2021 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | Green shipping program | Low Carbon Mini-Container Ship: This opportunity includes investment in a mini container ship of 80 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to be operated by KNSL. Small Low Carbon Cargo/Passenger Freighter: This opportunity includes investment in a freighter of approximately 200 tonnes, with some passenger capacity, to be operated by KNSL. Zero-impact cruise liner, Phoenix Islands: This opportunity involved the implementation of a pilot ‘zero impact' small scale cruise liner with capacity of 40-50 passengers operating from Tarawa to the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) | 2021 |
| Ministry Strategic Plan (MICTTD) 2021-2024 | Infrastructure improvements - General | To improve air, land and sea transport infrastructure. Provide/improve access between Tarawa and the outer islands | 2021 |
| Ministry Strategic Plan (MICTTD) 2021-2024 | Maritime Safety | To provide safe, quality and affordable shipping services to all islands to support socio-economic development policies. | 2021 |
| Kiribati NDC Investment Plan | Shipping efficiency improvements | replace 2,010 of the 2-stroke outboard motors used in Kiribati with either 4-stroke motors (1,560) or electric outboards (450) by 2030. Low Carbon Mini-Container Ship: This opportunity includes investment in a mini container ship of 80 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to be operated by KNSL. | 2021 |
| Ministry Strategic Plan (MICTTD) 2021-2024 | Shipping improvement - General | Build and provide necessary infrastructure for development such as air and sea ports. To provide safe, quality and affordable shipping services to all islands to support socio-economic development policies. Develop and review new vessel design. Naval Architecture development and training New Premises for Marine Division Establish and improve wharfs/jetties and ramps for domestic travel and cargo shipments Rules and guidelines for domestic fleets Reviewal/Renewal of existing domestic vessel licenses | 2021 |
| Ministry Strategic Plan (MICTTD) 2021-2024 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Provision of efficient port services and safe facilities. Improve safety measures & support. Improve port operations & security logistics. Port expansion | 2021 |
| Transport Investment PID | Excavation/dredging | finance engineering studies and civil works for a variety of maritime infrastructure improvements (including associated infrastructure), tailored to the needs of each island, as follows: (a) construction of jetty, passenger terminal and concrete ramp on Abaiang; and small-scale dredging (at Tebikerike, North Beru), passenger terminal, and seawall upgrade works on Beru; (b) construction of small multipurpose maritime facilities on Nonouti and Tabiteuea South, including concrete boat ramp, shelter, and AtoN workshop and small equipment | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Maritime Safety | finance hydrographic surveying (by Airborne Laser Bathymetry (ALB) and vessel-based Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) surveys) and maritime charts focusing on the four target islands to significantly improve the safety of navigation. | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Shipping improvement - General | finance hydrographic surveying (by Airborne Laser Bathymetry (ALB) and vessel-based Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) surveys) and maritime charts focusing on the four target islands to significantly improve the safety of navigation. | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | finance engineering studies and civil works for a variety of maritime infrastructure improvements (including associated infrastructure), tailored to the needs of each island, as follows: (a) construction of jetty, passenger terminal and concrete ramp on Abaiang; and small-scale dredging (at Tebikerike, North Beru), passenger terminal, and seawall upgrade works on Beru; (b) construction of small multipurpose maritime facilities on Nonouti and Tabiteuea South, including concrete boat ramp, shelter, and AtoN workshop and small equipment | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Stakeholder involvement - General | it will provide assistance to design , to replace existing defective AtoNs, to fabricate and install new AtoNs, as well as technical assistance to establish a system of maintaining these assets. Activities will involve as much local participation as possible, with a specific goal of transferring skills needed to sustain the Marine Division's AtoNs fabrication and asset management function into the future. | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Transport asset management - General | provide assistance to design14 , to replace existing defective AtoNs, to fabricate and install new AtoNs, as well as technical assistance to establish a system of maintaining these assets. rehabilitation works for existing causeways15, including enabling works and related investments, to ensure accessibility on prioritized outer islands. The rehabilitation works will include climate resilient features such as the provision of durable wearing course (i.e. interlocking block or concrete geocell), proper drainage and erosion control. The maintenance of the causeways will be secured during the project period, by providing technical assistance and training for developing causeways maintenance programs, and promoting the participation of women on the maintenance teams(by piloting an all-female routine maintenance team for causeway/maritime facilities); and (b) accompanying consulting services16 to support detailed design and delivery of this sub-component, as well as additional site investigations and studies | 2020 |
| Transport Investment PID | Vessel scrappage and retrofit | provide assistance to design , to replace existing defective AtoNs, to fabricate and install new AtoNs, as well as technical assistance to establish a system of maintaining these assets. | 2020 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Biofuels | Establish fuel standards and a testing facility for coconut oil-based biofuel to be used for power generation and transport | 2019 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Development of biofuel plan/policy | Roadmap developed for substituting diesel fuel with coconut oil biofuel for power generation and transportation | 2019 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Shipping efficiency improvements | Introduce regulations on minimum standards for energy efficiency | 2019 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Shipping improvement - General | Enhance sea transport infrastructure to better withstand climate change and disaster risks and provide food and water security. a. Procure and install navigational/radio equipment (including Kiritimati). b. Include risk reduction considerations in rehabilitation of Kiritimati Port. | 2019 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Transport asset management - General | Retrofit coastal infrastructure (roads, causeways, jetties) to sustain it against threats of climate change and disaster risks. Plan and implement a maintenance programme for outer island infrastructure ensure existing bridges and causeways remain viable. | 2019 |
| Amendment to Maritime Act | Transport international conventions - General | Vessels to comply with convention obligation and requirements | 2019 |
| Amendment to Maritime Act | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Maritime Ammendment Act, 2019 | 2019 |
| Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management | Transport resilience - general | c. Enhance resilience of small-scale wharf, jetty, channel and embarkation infrastructure to enable efficient infrastructure delivery, tourism and provide food security. | 2019 |
| Voluntary National Review 2018 - KIR | Shipping improvement - General | In 2018, the key areas of priority are: • Tourism and related disciplines (shipping, airline, cultural, IT & ICT); | 2018 |
| Voluntary National Review 2018 - KIR | Reduction of transport/ logistics costs | The Government also has two freight schemes in place to help address the elevated shipping costs to the outer islands. The first of these is the import levy imposed on all imported goods at the point of entry. This levy then directly subsidises the internal shipping costs for these remote communities in an attempt to lower retail prices to something broadly consistent with South Tarawa (the major port of entry). The second is a fruit and vegetable subsidy that will cover the shipping costs of any fruit and vegetables produced in the outer islands so it can be sold in markets of South Tarawa. This scheme has been somewhat successful in complimenting agricultural efforts on the outer islands, with bananas and other fruits available for purchase in the capital, but shipping volumes remain low. | 2018 |
| Voluntary National Review 2018 - KIR | Economic instruments - General | The Government also has two freight schemes in place to help address the elevated shipping costs to the outer islands. The first of these is the import levy imposed on all imported goods at the point of entry. This levy then directly subsidises the internal shipping costs for these remote communities in an attempt to lower retail prices to something broadly consistent with South Tarawa (the major port of entry). The second is a fruit and vegetable subsidy that will cover the shipping costs of any fruit and vegetables produced in the outer islands so it can be sold in markets of South Tarawa. This scheme has been somewhat successful in complimenting agricultural efforts on the outer islands, with bananas and other fruits available for purchase in the capital, but shipping volumes remain low. | 2018 |
| KV20 Vision | Increasing transport activity | the number of shipping voyages per month will be increased to 30 by 2019 and to 50 by 2036 | 2017 |
| Maritime Act | Passenger and freight load limits | Neither the master nor the owner of a vessel shall permit to be carried in the vessel more persons than the permitted number of passengers. All vessels registered under this Act with a length between perpendiculars (LBP) of 24 metres or more shall be assigned a freeboard in accordance with the International Load Line Convention 1966 and its subsequent amendments or it protocols. | 2017 |
| Kiribati Integrated Energy Roadmap: 2017-2025 | Shipping efficiency improvements | Efficient sea ferry system developed for nearby outer islands | 2017 |
| KV20 Vision | Shipping improvement - General | development plans to improve maritime infrastructure on the outer islands. | 2017 |
| Maritime Act | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Maritime Act 2017 | 2017 |
| Kiribati NDC | Biofuels | Use of coconut oil as biodiesel for transport | 2016 |
| Kiribati Development Plan 2016-19 | Shipping improvement - General | Improve the inter-island transport system. | 2016 |
| Kiribati Development Plan 2016-19 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Identify and improve the infrastructure needs for the Line and Phoenix islands including the sea port and airport facilities on Kanton Island. | 2016 |