Vanuatu Maritime Transport Profile 2026
Outline
VANUATU
MARITIME TRANSPORT PROFILE
Supported by:
Maritime assets
Port area in 2025
Ships built by country of building, annual
Merchant fleet by country of beneficial ownership, annual
Ship recycling
Trade - Navigation total
Water transport employment
Activity
Container port throughput
Port call and performance statistics
Trade mode share
Port Activity
Trade openness index
Seafarer supply
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
Liner shipping connectivity index
Port liner shipping connectivity index
Bilateral liner shipping connectivity index
Trade cost
Container port performance index
Remoteness index
Sustainable freight transport index
Percent of firms identifying transport as a major constraint
Shipping emissions
EDGAR GHG 2025
Transport energy consumption
EDGAR AP 8.1
GAINS emissions
Adaptation and resilience
Hazard exposure
Average annual loss
Port risk
Maritime-related disasters
Investment on ports
Development financing
Private participation in infrastructure
Policy Targets
Green shipping program
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | 2025 | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2050 |
| Vanuatu Low Emissions Development Strategy | 2023 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency, 10% saving on the BAU projection. Energy (transport): 110 Gg CO2-e | 2030 |
| Vanuatu Updated NDC | 2022 | By 2030, 10% improvement in transport (land and marine) energy efficiency. | 2030 |
| Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap | 2021 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency - % savings on BAU projection= 10% (2030) | 2030 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | 2016 | Explore the potential for powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2030 |
Managing transport energy consumption
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | 2025 | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2050 |
| Vanuatu Low Emissions Development Strategy | 2023 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency, 10% saving on the BAU projection. Energy (transport): 110 Gg CO2-e | 2030 |
| Vanuatu Updated NDC | 2022 | By 2030, 10% improvement in transport (land and marine) energy efficiency. | 2030 |
| Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap | 2021 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency - % savings on BAU projection= 10% (2030) | 2030 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | 2016 | Explore the potential for powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2030 |
Renewable energy
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | 2025 | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2050 |
| Vanuatu Low Emissions Development Strategy | 2023 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency, 10% saving on the BAU projection. Energy (transport): 110 Gg CO2-e | 2030 |
| Vanuatu Updated NDC | 2022 | By 2030, 10% improvement in transport (land and marine) energy efficiency. | 2030 |
| Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap | 2021 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency - % savings on BAU projection= 10% (2030) | 2030 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | 2016 | Explore the potential for powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2030 |
Shipping efficiency improvements
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | 2025 | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2050 |
| Vanuatu Low Emissions Development Strategy | 2023 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency, 10% saving on the BAU projection. Energy (transport): 110 Gg CO2-e | 2030 |
| Vanuatu Updated NDC | 2022 | By 2030, 10% improvement in transport (land and marine) energy efficiency. | 2030 |
| Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap | 2021 | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency - % savings on BAU projection= 10% (2030) | 2030 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | 2016 | Explore the potential for powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2030 |
Policy Measures
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | Green shipping program | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2025 |
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | Green shipping program | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2025 |
| Vanuatu NDC 3.0 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Vanuatu commits to continue its engagement with the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) pursuing a commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, and will establish a policy and regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG in the maritime transport sector and transition all major ports to Green Ports with high resilience. | 2025 |
| Vanuatu Low Emissions Development Strategy | Managing transport energy consumption | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency, 10% saving on the BAU projection. Energy (transport): 110 Gg CO2-e | 2023 |
| Vanuatu Updated NDC | Shipping efficiency improvements | By 2030, 10% improvement in transport (land and marine) energy efficiency. | 2022 |
| Rebbelib2050: A Catalyst for Change | Shipping improvement - General | Support ongoing empowerment of WAM program on traditional voyaging, vessel construction, and navigation and its extension to all Marshallese youth. | 2022 |
| Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap | Shipping efficiency improvements | Improve transport (land and marine) energy efficiency - % savings on BAU projection= 10% (2030) | 2021 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | Biofuels | Consolidate and expand the use of locally produced bio-fuels as an alternative to fossil fuels for electricity generation and transport Support the Department of Agriculture to develop a policy for the coconut industry, which would cover coconut oil for electricity generation, coconut oil-based fuel for land and sea transport, and increasing production of copra value-added products | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Capacity building - General | Promote Vanuatu as a crewing nation by ensuring that education and training continue to comply with international standards and will support, possibly through legislation, the hiring by shipping companies of Ni-Vanuatu. | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Promote the development of domestic ferry services as an alternative transport mode, where practicable. | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Maritime Safety | Ensure that all ports and shipping routes fulfill requirements regarding depth, width, harbour channel markings and other navigational safety items. Ensure that Vanuatu flagged ships and those foreign ships operating in Vanuatu waters operate in accordance with local and international maritime safety, security and environmental protection standards. | 2016 |
| Updated Vanuatu National Energy Road Map 2016-2030 | Renewable energy | Explore the potential for powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2016 |
| Vanuatu Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2016-2030 | Renewable energy | exploring the possibility of powering sea-going vessels and land-based vehicles with renewable energy | 2016 |
| Vanuatu Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2016-2030 | Shipping efficiency improvements | ensuring improvements in the fuel efficiency for the transport sector (land, sea and air) by standardising engine fuel efficiency | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Shipping improvement - General | Promote and develop regular shipping services and related infrastructure as well as a welldefined regulatory framework. Promote Vanuatu as a premier cruise ship destination and ensure the provision of effective support services and related infrastructure as well as a well- defined regulatory framework. Ensure that all ports and shipping routes fulfill requirements regarding depth, width, harbour channel markings and other navigational safety items Ensure the PSC inspection targets are met, currently set at 15% of all ships making a port call, by ensuring that adequate human resources are available. Ensure that appropriate regulations and navigational aids are developed to achieve safe usage of the waterways | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Technical standards for general transport infrastructure | Ensure that Vanuatu flagged ships and those foreign ships operating in Vanuatu waters operate in accordance with local and international maritime safety, security and environmental protection standards. | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Transport institutional reform | Implement measures to attract ship owners to register their vessels in Vanuatu through a vibrant ship registry that is internationally respected and profitable | 2016 |
| Vanuatu's National Ocean Policy | Vessel scrappage and retrofit | Promote the expansion of ship repair and maintenance activities to support the maritime sector. | 2016 |
| MARITIME ACT | Transport Laws and Regulations- General | Maritime Act | 2011 |