Tonga Maritime Transport Profile 2026

Outline

TONGA

MARITIME TRANSPORT PROFILE


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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

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Port call and performance statistics

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Trade mode share

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Port Activity

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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

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Port liner shipping connectivity index

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Bilateral liner shipping connectivity index

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Trade cost

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Container port performance index

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Remoteness index

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Sustainable freight transport index

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Percent of firms identifying transport as a major constraint

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Shipping emissions

EDGAR GHG 2025

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Transport energy consumption

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EDGAR AP 8.1

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GAINS emissions

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Adaptation and resilience

Average annual loss

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Port risk

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Investment on ports

Development financing

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Private participation in infrastructure

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Policy Targets

Policy Measures

Tonga NDC 3.0Budget/ identification of shipping projectsInitiative 4: Maritime efficiency and electrification • Phase 1: Ship efficiency programme: ~ USD 4 - 5 mil • Phase 2: Sailing multi-hull pilots: ~ USD 5 mil • Phase 3: Maritime electrification: ~ USD 7 - 10 mil Total Investments: USD ~ 68 - 92 mil2025
Tonga NDC 3.0Coordinate planning across government agenciesMEIDECC: Responsible for policy oversight and coordination of lowcarbon transport initiatives under TERMPLUS/TEEMP • Ministry of Infrastructure (MoI): Responsible for the transport sector, covering land, maritime, and aviation. • Ports Authority Tonga (PAT): Overseeing operation, maintenance, and efficiency improvements of national ports.2025
Tonga NDC 3.0Shipping efficiency improvementsInitiative 4: Maritime efficiency and electrification • Phase 1: Ship efficiency programme: hull maintenance, slow steaming, fuel mgmt; outboard motor replacement • Phase 2: Sailing multi-hull pilots, windassist cargo design2025
Tonga NDC 3.0Vessel scrappage and retrofitInitiative 4: Maritime efficiency and electrification • Phase 1: Ship efficiency programme: hull maintenance, slow steaming, fuel mgmt; outboard motor replacement • Maritime electrification: hybrid inter-island freighters; FISA fleet retrofit/replacement2025
Tonga National Infrastructure Investment Plan 3 - 2021-2030Shipping improvement - GeneralTSCP2 (Nav Aids, Vessels, Ports Repairs) Niuas, Eu'a & Ha'apai, New Domestic Wharf. New maintenance workshop and boat ramp upgrade (HP, VV)2022
Tonga National Infrastructure Investment Plan 3 - 2021-2030Shipping port infrastructure improvementsNafanua ('Eua) Port Upgrade (now under TSCP2)2022
Low Emission Development Strategy 2021-2050BiofuelsFurther exploration of biofuels as an alternative fuel for both land and maritime transport may be revisited in future2021
Low Emission Development Strategy 2021-2050Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - Generalferry transportation across the Fanga'uta Lagoon2021
Energy Act 2021Shipping efficiency improvementsenvironmentally clean, energy efficient and cost effective transportation within the Kingdom2021
Low Emission Development Strategy 2021-2050Vessel scrappage and retrofitpolicies on abandoned vehicles, vehicle and boat collection and scrappage, and data collection for transport energy consumption (aligned with the new Energy Bill)2021
Tonga Climate Resilient TransportExcavation/dredgingLimited maintenance dredging at outer island ports throughout Tonga to remove sediment deposits within the basin and docking areas is also included. Activities under this sub-component will include supervision of the maritime sector infrastructure rehabilitation works, and design and preparation of the maintenance dredging works.2020
Tonga Climate Resilient TransportInland waterways (IWT) improvement - GeneralThe TMS will provide important statistics for monitoring compliance with regulations and standards, especially for ferry services and possibly aviation.2020
Tonga Climate Resilient TransportMaritime SafetyThe activities will be based on the recommendations of the Assessment of Maritime Safety Conditions of Ports and Wharves (2017) and the findings from investigation of Nafanua Port at ‘Eua (October, 2017). 2020
Tonga Climate Resilient TransportShipping improvement - GeneralA variety of safety repair works at a number of outer island locations in Nafanua (‘Eua), Pasivulangi (Niuatoputapu) and Futu (Niuafo'ou). 2020
Tonga Climate Resilient TransportTechnical standards for general transport infrastructureThe TMS will provide important statistics for monitoring compliance with regulations and standards, especially for ferry services and possibly aviation.2020
Energy Efficiency Master PlanInland waterways (IWT) improvement - GeneralBegin a water taxi in the laguna (and some associated dredging)2020
Third National Communication on Climate Change ReportMaritime Safetyimproved safety standards for passenger vessels, under an improved regulatory framework with the Government of Tonga's Marine and Ports Division2019
Third National Communication on Climate Change ReportShipping improvement - General aids to navigation and port-related works completed to improve safety and security of seafarers2019
Third National Communication on Climate Change ReportTechnical standards for general transport infrastructureimproved safety standards for passenger vessels, under an improved regulatory framework with the Government of Tonga's Marine and Ports Division2019
Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025Shipping improvement - Generalsupport strong private sector aviation, shipping services and land transport services in country encourage more international shipping and aviation links to the country2015