Challenges for Vanuatu in the Maritime Education and Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the situation of maritime administration and maritime education in the Republic of Vanuatu, and to discuss effective policies for the country to be able to offer trustworthy ship registry scheme and reliable seafarers. Surveys were carried out while one of the authors was working in the country as a Japanese official aid worker to contribute to the improvement of the seafarer education. The study revealed the shortfall of the government's maritime administration in meeting the requirements of IMO, and it impedes the development of ship registry and job opportunities for seafaring students.

In order for Vanuatu to assure the authenticity of maritime nation, this paper suggests that the country's governmental ship inspection scheme must be upgraded. The methodology is discussed in detailes. The upgraded ship inspection will enhance the reputation of the country and contribute to increasing the ship registries, and the income generated may be utilized to secure better seafarer education. The authors find the possibility that, through those efforts, Vanuatu will serve as a seafarer supplying nation for shipping nations such as Japan in the future.