/ 12/13/2025

Purpose & Objective

The purpose of the Sixth SIMA Workshop was to strengthen dialogue between SIMA and ship operators, share updates on national maritime priorities, and collectively identify practical actions to enhance safety, environmental protection, seafarer development, and sustainable shipping in the Solomon Islands.

Meeting Arrangements

Dates: 26 November 2025

Location:  Monarch Dynasty hall, Iron Bottom Sound

Opening and Launching of National Plans

Opening

The workshop opened with remarks and a prayer from Mr. John Hugo Bugoro, Chair of the SIMA Board, who highlighted the vital role of shipping as the lifeline of the Solomon Islands and emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between government, ship operators, and communities. He reiterated SIMA’s commitment to improving maritime safety, environmental protection, and service reliability nationwide.

Presentation & Launching of National Plans

Three national plans were officially launched:

• National Search and Rescue Plan (SARPLAN)
• National Marine Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN)
• Solomon Islands Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Future: Charting the Course towards Greener Shipping and Ports

These plans establish a national direction for maritime safety, pollution preparedness, and decarbonisation of domestic shipping.

The keynote address by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to safer, greener, and more resilient shipping.

Presentations & Interactive session

Maritime Training and Employment

SIMA presented updates on:

• Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEA) – stricter compliance measures will now be applied.
• Seafarer qualifications and industry skills gaps.
• Maritime legal reforms, including consultation on the draft SIMA (STCW Convention) Maritime Order 2025.

Key discussion points included seafarer competency, oral examination issues, and the need for operators to submit compliant SEAs within required timeframes.

Maritime Collaboration and Ship Safety Standards

Stakeholders discussed:

• Strengthening cooperation between SIMA, SIMTA, SISA and SIWIMA
• Supporting seafarer welfare and addressing challenges faced by female seafarers
• Improving shipping profitability, fuel efficiency and access to financing
• Implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS) and complying with the SIMA (Carriage & Registration of Passengers) Maritime Order 2025

Group discussions focused on practical steps to achieve sustainable domestic shipping, improve fleet safety, and enhance workforce development.

Closing & Outcomes

The workshop:

1. Applauded the launching of the National Search and Rescue Plan (SARPLAN), the National Marine Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN), and the National Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Future (NAP).
2. Thanked all private and public stakeholders for their contribution in developing the three national plans, and acknowledged the IMO’s support under the GreenVoyage2050 Project in developing the NAP
3. Acknowledged that vessels for which SEAs have not been submitted will not be authorised to operate at the first Special (Pre-departure) Inspection or Periodic Survey; and committed to respond to SIMA request of SEA amendments.
4. Recognised the Solomon Maritime College (SIMC) efforts to train seafarers; and requested SIMC to provide a training programme for ship operators, SITESA, Commerce and Labour to plan for the training of the seafarers and consider the need of the maritime industry.
5. Urged ship operators to establish plans to train their seafarer and upgrade their competency.
6. Noted the consultation on the draft SIMA (STCW Convention) Maritime Order 2025; and agreed to contribute to it, especially to consider area of operation and level of seafarer qualification.
7. Committed to implement SIMA (Carriage and Registration of Passengers) Maritime Order 2025.
8. Agreed to develop sustainable shipping and SIMTA-SIMA to organize further consultation and approach the government and development partners to assist the maritime industry in:
   1. Improving operational efficiency (reducing FO consumption and GHG emissions),
   2. Financing shipping development (grants, subsidies, loans and insurance),
   3. Developing human resources and wellbeing (skills, qualifications and health),
   4. Improving business profitability (freight and passengers’ rates, maintenance).
9. Acknowledged progress of ship operators in implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) on board their ship(s).
10. Encouraged all ships operators to develop and implement a SMS on board their ship(s).
11. Called ship operators and seafarers to work together to address issues related to salaries and consumption of alcohol, and to facilitate and strengthen reporting of bullying, abuse and harassment and other issues facing seafarers, especially female seafarers.
12. Requested the Solomon Islands Women in Maritime Association (SIWIMA) and SISA to continue raising awareness in primary and secondary schools to promote maritime careers and work on board ships.

The detailed report of the Sixth SIMA Workshop with Ship Operators can be found here. Any complementary information can be requested to Brenda Oeta, Principal Officer Vessel Inspection at brenda.oeta@sima.gov.sb. The presentations can be downloaded in the event programme below by clicking on the hyperlinks.

Annex – Workshop Agenda

Time	Agenda Item		Presenters
Wednesday 26 November 2025
0830 – 0900	Registration		SIMA
Launching of National Plans
Facilitator – Tony Justin, Officer Shipping Operations & Vessel Inspection
0900 – 0905	Administrative Matters		Beima Taisia, SIMA Administration Officer
0905 – 0910	Welcome Remarks and Prayer		John Hugo Bugoro, SIMA Chair
0910 – 0930	1	Presentation of national plans: National Search & Rescue Plan (SARPLAN) Solomon Islands National Marine Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN) Solomon Islands Plan for a Sustainable Maritime Future: Charting the Course Toward Green Shipping & Ports	Ernest Legumana, Senior Officer Pollution & Safety Response Diana Vasula, Senior Officer Sustainable Shipping Francis Pita, Technical Officer Sustainable Shipping
0930 – 0940	Short break – participants remain seated
0940 – 0945	Keynote Address		Permanent Secretary, Mr. Allan Lilia, Ministry of Infrastructure and Development
0945 – 1030	Video on National Action Plan (NAP) Open discussion National Plans Launching & Photo		All
1030 – 1100	Group Photo & Morning Tea
SESSION 2 – Maritime Training & Employment
1100 – 1115	2	Sustainable Maritime Employment & Priorities Seafarer Employment Agreement: status & next steps / Seafarer Qualification & demand: status & gaps	Leeane Kivolyn, Senior Officer Shipping Operations Shem Noqe, Technical Officer Shipping Operations
1115 – 1130	3	Maritime Legal Development Accession to international convention and protocols / Legislative drafting	Joash Bella, Senior Legal Officer
1130 – 1230		Discussion	All
1230 –1330	Lunch
SESSION 3 – Maritime Collaboration and Ship Safety Standards
1330 – 1345	4	Engaging in Maritime Collaboration Solomon Islands Maritime Transport Association: interactive session on sustainable shipping development  Solomon Islands Seafarers Association: update Main issues & way forward	Caroline Laore, secretary SIMTA Diana Hill, Executive Member SISA
1345 – 1430		Discussion	All
1430 – 1500	5	Raising Ship Safety Standards Safety Management Systems implementation: update Carriage & Registration of Passenger implementation	George Tutu Principal Officer Vessel Inspection Benedict Teahui, Technical Officer Vessel Inspection
1500 – 1530		Discussion	All
1530 – 1600	6	Outcomes, Wrap Up & Closing	Brenda Oeta, Principal Officer Vessel Inspection Allen Ofea, Manager Executive Office
1600 – 1630	Afternoon Tea