The International Maritime Organization has opened its first Regional Presence Office for the Pacific, establishing a Suva, Fiji base designed to boost maritime governance, safety, environmental protection and the region’s push toward cleaner shipping.
The office, hosted at the Pacific Community’s Lotus Building, will act as a hub for coordination, knowledge sharing and technical expertise. It aims to tailor capacity-building and policy support to the Pacific Island nations and Least Developed Countries, helping them implement IMO instruments and align regional plans with global climate and shipping goals.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domínguez described maritime transport as a lifeline for Pacific economies and communities and said the Suva office will strengthen regional capacity, coordination and representation at the IMO. He emphasized the office’s role in advancing cleaner, more resilient shipping and in delivering practical support to Pacific nations as they implement international obligations and engage in global maritime discussions.
Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau welcomed the milestone, noting the office’s potential to strengthen maritime governance and sustainability across the region. He thanked the Pacific Community (SPC) for hosting the office and highlighted Fiji’s transport reforms, including a national transport sector master plan and decarbonisation strategy, which the RPO can help align with international climate objectives.
The launch coincides with the IMO’s ongoing push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The organization’s revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy targets a reduction of at least 20% by 2030 and 70% by 2040, relative to 2008 levels. Fiji’s enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution commits to net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 40% cut in domestic maritime emissions by 2030. The new RPO is positioned as a key partner in turning these ambitions into action, advancing capacity development, technical cooperation and a refined results-based approach.
Beyond safety and pollution prevention, the RPO will support decarbonisation efforts and law reform, helping Pacific Island nations meet international obligations while amplifying Pacific voices in regional and global maritime forums. It will also work in concert with regional initiatives such as the Pacific One Maritime Framework and, where applicable, the CHOICE project for sustainable shipping, to mainstream maritime considerations into resilience and development planning.
Summary: The IMO’s Regional Presence Office in Suva marks a significant step in bringing tailored maritime support closer to Pacific Island nations, accelerating safety improvements, pollution prevention and the transition to cleaner shipping while strengthening regional collaboration and representation in international shipping policy.
Hopeful perspective: By embedding IMO expertise locally, the Pacific can speed reforms, improve safety and environmental stewardship, and reinforce the region’s resilience and connectivity—benefiting communities, economies and marine ecosystems across the islands.
Additional note: The office is expected to begin with capacity-building, technical assistance and country outreach, expanding to broader regional coordination as needs are identified and funding partnerships are secured.
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