Samoa Maritime Transport Profile 2026
Outline
SAMOA
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
EV in water transport
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 | 20 percent of all vessels are electrified or powered by onboard solar PV systems by 2035 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of energy use in manufacturing, construction, commercial and residential subsectors by 2035 | 2035 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, transnational crime through Samoa EEZ is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels. By 2030, 100% of Samoa's registered vessels comply with international safety standards and international security regulations to prevent maritime casualties and incidents. By 2030, the number of reported incidents of incursions and/or interceptions of invasive and/or alien species in Samoa's ocean (maritime transport, ports and dry docks) is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels through enhanced biosecurity controls. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
Managing transport GHG emission
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 | 20 percent of all vessels are electrified or powered by onboard solar PV systems by 2035 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of energy use in manufacturing, construction, commercial and residential subsectors by 2035 | 2035 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, transnational crime through Samoa EEZ is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels. By 2030, 100% of Samoa's registered vessels comply with international safety standards and international security regulations to prevent maritime casualties and incidents. By 2030, the number of reported incidents of incursions and/or interceptions of invasive and/or alien species in Samoa's ocean (maritime transport, ports and dry docks) is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels through enhanced biosecurity controls. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
Maritime Safety
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 | 20 percent of all vessels are electrified or powered by onboard solar PV systems by 2035 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of energy use in manufacturing, construction, commercial and residential subsectors by 2035 | 2035 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, transnational crime through Samoa EEZ is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels. By 2030, 100% of Samoa's registered vessels comply with international safety standards and international security regulations to prevent maritime casualties and incidents. By 2030, the number of reported incidents of incursions and/or interceptions of invasive and/or alien species in Samoa's ocean (maritime transport, ports and dry docks) is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels through enhanced biosecurity controls. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
Shipping improvement - General
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 | 20 percent of all vessels are electrified or powered by onboard solar PV systems by 2035 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of energy use in manufacturing, construction, commercial and residential subsectors by 2035 | 2035 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, transnational crime through Samoa EEZ is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels. By 2030, 100% of Samoa's registered vessels comply with international safety standards and international security regulations to prevent maritime casualties and incidents. By 2030, the number of reported incidents of incursions and/or interceptions of invasive and/or alien species in Samoa's ocean (maritime transport, ports and dry docks) is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels through enhanced biosecurity controls. | 2030 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | 2020 | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2030 |
Policy Measures
| Samoa Third National Communication | EV in water transport | Projects underway include outfitting vessels with solar panels, piloting shore-side electricity supply, and exploring biodiesel and electric ferries. | 2026 |
| Samoa Third National Communication | Solar energy | Installation of solar panels on the boats to assist with the electricity supply on the boat. When the ferry docks, the engine is turned off with the electricity supplied by the solar panels. | 2026 |
| Samoa Third National Communication | Shipping efficiency improvements | piloting low-carbon outboard motors for use by local fisherfolk, coupled with training schemes on maintenance and usage. | 2026 |
| Samoa Third National Communication | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Samoa's inter-island ferries are the main focus, with efforts to modernize port infrastructure, enforce Low Emission Zones (LEZ) around Apia Port, and adopt energy-efficient maritime technologies. | 2026 |
| Samoa Third National Communication | Vehicle inspection and maintenance | Conduct energy efficiency performance checks every month for the ferries. | 2026 |
| Samoa Third National Communication | Decreasing transport activity | Reduce the number of voyages between Upolu and Savaii per day | 2026 |
| Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) Samoa Decarbonisation Strategy for Samoa's Transport Sector until 2030 | EV in water transport | Replace a ferry with a new lowemission electric vessel | 2025 |
| Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | General transport improvement for elderly, children, or persons with disabilities | Conduct a disability audit of the land and maritime public transport systems and take corrective measures to make the transport infrastructure accessible (e.g. installation of wheelchair ramps). Design and roll out an incentive scheme to promote the conversion to EVs by households with mobility-impaired members . | 2025 |
| Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) Samoa Decarbonisation Strategy for Samoa's Transport Sector until 2030 | Research in transport sector | Research and development into lower carbon ferry operations including Mulifanua and Salelologa Ferry Terminals | 2025 |
| Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) Samoa Decarbonisation Strategy for Samoa's Transport Sector until 2030 | Solar energy | Solar Power for ferries | 2025 |
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | EV in water transport | 20 percent of all vessels are electrified or powered by onboard solar PV systems by 2035 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of energy use in manufacturing, construction, commercial and residential subsectors by 2035 | 2025 |
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | Port electrification | Shore side electricity supply is provided for at berth vessels | 2025 |
| SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Shore side electricity supply is provided for at berth vessels | 2025 |
| Voluntary National Review 2024 - WSM | Green shipping program | Although the adoption of green maritime transport in Samoa is still in its early stages, there are emerging initiatives to facilitate the transition. For instance, in 2023, the Government of Japan, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), allocated 15.5 million USD to accelerate the electrification of transport and explore low-carbon propulsion systems in Samoa. | 2024 |
| Voluntary National Review 2024 - WSM | Shipping improvement - General | Other notable social assistance initiatives include: free inter-island ferry transport for pensioners. Decarbonising maritime transport is a central aspect of Samoa's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. | 2024 |
| Voluntary National Review 2024 - WSM | Reference to international financial support | Although the adoption of green maritime transport in Samoa is still in its early stages, there are emerging initiatives to facilitate the transition. For instance, in 2023, the Government of Japan, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), allocated 15.5 million USD to accelerate the electrification of transport and explore low-carbon propulsion systems in Samoa. | 2024 |
| Voluntary National Review 2024 - WSM | Economic instruments - General | Other notable social assistance initiatives include: free inter-island ferry transport for pensioners. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Research in transport sector | Robust research and data collection, management, and sharing are fundamental to successful monitoring of the Plan's effectiveness. Monitoring will be guided by objectives of the SOS and outlined in a Monitoring Plan. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Capacity building - General | A Communications Plan will ensure clear and transparent communication with relevant stakeholders to encourage and improve compliance with the MSP's rules and regulations. Further, resources will be allocated to building the necessary capacity to implement the Plan across the relevant sectors. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Data collection and repositories - General | Robust research and data collection, management, and sharing are fundamental to successful monitoring of the Plan's effectiveness. Monitoring will be guided by objectives of the SOS and outlined in a Monitoring Plan. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Coordinate planning across government agencies | Ensuring coordination across legal and policy frameworks within Samoa is vital for effective implementation of the Plan. Implementation should be primarily guided by the framework outlined in pending legislation and associated regulations, but should also take into account any existing legislative statutes, policies and entities managing Samoan waters. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Reporting, transparency, feedback mechanism | A robust monitoring and surveillance strategy is essential for MPAs to ensure adherence to regulations, prevent illegal activities, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of these marine environments. These strategies will be guided by an initial assessment of existing monitoring, compliance and enforcement capacities, as well as available resources and government priorities. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Transport finance - General | Achieving financial sustainability is essential for the successful implementation of the MSP. To ensure the Plan's effectiveness, the Implementation Plan must include a Funding Strategy that builds on existing government resources, international donor and grant funding, and other financing mechanisms. Further, it must support processes and systems that secure sustainable financing. | 2024 |
| Marine Spatial Plan 2024-2034 | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Ensuring coordination across legal and policy frameworks within Samoa is vital for effective implementation of the Plan. Implementation should be primarily guided by the framework outlined in pending legislation and associated regulations, but should also take into account any existing legislative statutes, policies and entities managing Samoan waters. Because the MSP is multi-sectoral and relevant to different ministries and other entities across government, implementation must be a coordinated effort. | 2024 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Development of shipping/ maritime/ inland water transport (IWT) plan/ policy | Strengthen legislations and policies in support of a well governed Sea Subsector | 2023 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Maritime Safety | Ensure the existence of safety navigation policies for Ports & Shipping companies. | 2023 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Shipping efficiency improvements | Accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector to optimize energy efficiency with a specific focus on fishing vessels. | 2023 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Shipping improvement - General | Conduct a business analysis to determine robust measures for the improvement of the Sea Subsector's financial performance and position. Review Samoa's shipping registry arrangements for a new intervention to increase business AND employment opportunities. Ensure the existence of safety navigation policies for Ports & Shipping companies. Strengthen capacity of the domestic and international port | 2023 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Establish new operational procedures and review old ones to support the Green Port Strategy. Strengthen capacity of the domestic and international port. | 2023 |
| Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Strengthen legislations and policies to support and improve the Sector and Sector Agencies' performances and services. Strengthen legislations and policies in support of a well governed Sea Subsector. Improve the legal and policy frameworks governing the administration of Land Subsector services and associated organizational structural arrangements. | 2023 |
| Samoa's Second Nationally Determined Contribution | Green shipping program | Develop shore side electricity supply for vessels and reviewing the energy efficiency of maritime transport | 2021 |
| Pathway for Development of Samoa FY2021/22-FY2025/26 | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | upgrades to airport and wharf facilities, and improvements to the quality of sea and air transport links between islands and countries | 2021 |
| Samoa's Second Nationally Determined Contribution | Solar energy | Expand Samoa's efforts to install solar panels on vessels | 2021 |
| Samoa Climate Change Policy 2020-2030 | Renewable energy | Reducing GHG emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy resources in the Transport Sector (land, and sea) | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Managing transport GHG emission | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Development of climate change/ low carbon plan/ policy | Integrate Ecosystem-Based Approach (EBA) into existing climate change adaptation management plans and initiatives. | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Maritime Safety | It is critical to protect the right to safety at sea by ensuring stronger measures are in place to enforce safety standards on domestic shipping. Our national waters must be secure from illegal activities that threaten the lives of those exercising their right of peaceful use of the ocean and its resources. Enhanced surveillance at sea and at ports must be strengthened to ensure domestic and foreign-going ships meet international standards of safety and security. Improved coordination, surveillance and enforcement remain critical to ensure security of our national waters from illegal activities and tra nsnational crimes. | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Maritime Safety | By 2030, transnational crime through Samoa EEZ is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels. By 2030, 100% of Samoa's registered vessels comply with international safety standards and international security regulations to prevent maritime casualties and incidents. By 2030, the number of reported incidents of incursions and/or interceptions of invasive and/or alien species in Samoa's ocean (maritime transport, ports and dry docks) is reduced by 80% from 2020 levels through enhanced biosecurity controls. | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Shipping improvement - General | Decarbonisation in maritime shipping is a priority for Samoa to deliver our NDCs. | 2020 |
| Samoa Ocean Strategy (2020–2030) | Shipping improvement - General | By 2030, air and marine pollution from ships and ports are reduced by 50% compared with 2020 levels of carbon emissions levels. | 2020 |
| Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Corporate Plan | Capacity building - General | Maritime: increase capacity and performance of technical staff Land transport: review and ammend principle legislation to reflect key regulatory roles and functions of the division under MWTI | 2019 |
| Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Corporate Plan | Data collection and repositories - General | improve data collection from vessel and port operators | 2019 |
| Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Corporate Plan | Maritime Safety | Samoa complies and continue to meet international maritime requirements of safety and security for all maritime transportation and related activities. | 2019 |
| Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Corporate Plan | Technical standards for general transport infrastructure | Samoa complies and continue to meet international maritime requirements of safety and security for all maritime transportation and related activities. | 2019 |
| Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Corporate Plan | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | To review exisitng national maritime legislation. Undertake a full legislative review of Road Safety legislation in Samoa to encourage formulation of the National Road Safety Act | 2019 |
| Energy Sector Plan 2017-2022 | Shipping efficiency improvements | promote fuel efficiency in land and sea transport | 2017 |
| Development Strategy 2020 | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | upgrading of Faleolo International airport, West Coast Road, Apia port and other wharfs to islands | 2016 |
| Development Strategy 2020 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | upgrading of Faleolo International airport, West Coast Road, Apia port and other wharfs to islands | 2016 |
| Samoa National Infrastructure Strategic Plan | Budget/ identification of shipping projects | Investment programs based on the finding of the National Ports Plan,. Continue SAA investments in safety and security system to ensure ongoing compliance with international requirements. | 2011 |
| Samoa National Infrastructure Strategic Plan | Development of shipping/ maritime/ inland water transport (IWT) plan/ policy | Prepare a National Ports Plan and implement the recommendations. In particular, this port development roadmap should guide further investment in terms of staging of port upgrades for international cargo shipping; and infrastructure priorities for serving the cruise ship market (in conjunction with the Samoa Tourism Authority). | 2011 |
| Samoa National Infrastructure Strategic Plan | Shipping improvement - General | proposals relating to upgrading facilities for inter-island shipping; and upgrading port facilities for international shipping and commercial port services. Improved quality of passenger facilities for interisland travel. Improved image for the tourist market. | 2011 |
| Samoa National Infrastructure Strategic Plan | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | proposals relating to upgrading facilities for inter-island shipping; and upgrading port facilities for international shipping and commercial port services. Staged upgrading of international port facilities, linked to established future needs and business case. | 2011 |
| Maritime zones act 1999 | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Maritime zones act 1999 | 1999 |
| Samoa Ports Authority Act, 1998 | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Samoa Ports Authority Act, 1998 | 1998 |
| Shipping Act, 1998 | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Shipping Act, 1998 | 1998 |