North Efate to Welcome South Pacific’s Biggest Marina: Major Boost for Vanuatu’s Economy and Tourism

December 8, 2024 9:50 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

North of Efate is set to host the largest marina in the South Pacific. With machinery and equipment arriving this week, the project is poised to make a lasting impact on Vanuatu’s marine and tourism industries.

This first-of-its-kind marina project in Vanuatu is a joint venture between Port of Havannah Construction from Australia, Goodies Limited, and Jungle Zipline. Machinery and equipment arrived on Thursday, with unloading completed yesterday.

According to the owner of Jungle Zipline, Michael Thompson, the marina, which will span 11 hectares, will feature 230 berths and accommodate vessels up to 110 metres in length. Once completed, it will provide much-needed infrastructure for Vanuatu’s growing marine industry, particularly in vessel maintenance and protection during the cyclone season.

Thompson noted that currently, there is no facility in Vanuatu to lift and service vessels, which often leads to boat owners relocating their vessels to Australia or New Zealand. The marina will solve this issue by offering services to lift vessels out of the water for safety, making it a critical addition to the country’s marine infrastructure.

This development is expected to trigger substantial economic growth in North Efate. The marina will not only attract yachts and superyachts but also encourage businesses from the marine industry to set up shop in the region. Thompson foresees supermarkets, banks, and other commercial operators wanting to capitalise on the growing marine industry, providing numerous employment and training opportunities for local residents.

“At the moment, we have interest from supermarkets, banks, and commercial operators who want to establish themselves here. They are looking at ways to contribute to the ongoing development, benefiting the project and the people. This will create numerous employment and training opportunities,” Thompson informed the Daily Post.

The environmental impact of the marina has been carefully considered, with Thompson emphasising that the project is committed to minimising any harm to the environment. Working closely with the Environmental Department, the project is designed to improve local conditions, addressing issues like coastal erosion and overfishing, and ensuring that the development benefits both the community and the environment in the long term.

“For the environmental impact, we understand there are concerns. What we are doing is ensuring that every step of the process follows the law,” he said.

“This is a project of significant exposure, and it’s in our best interest to minimise any damage to the environment.

“Our plan is not only to prevent harm but also to improve the current conditions. For example, along the roads, we are seeing significant coastal erosion, overfishing in the reefs, and damage to fisheries. Our goal is to improve these issues and make things better for everyone. The Environmental Department is on board with us, and the locals are supportive as well. Every step of the way, any permit we require will go through the Environmental Department process.”

He said projects like this will benefit Vanuatu, acting as a magnet for tourism, yachting, and maintenance.

“What we will see is the development of a strong marine industry in Vanuatu,” he said.

“Our first marine travel lift will be installed here, with a 75-tonne capacity. After that, its size will increase significantly. The ultimate goal is to be able to lift superyachts out of the water.”

Greg Barrat, a vessel owner, told the Daily Post that having a place where yachts can stay during the cyclone season makes the marina a great option for both Vanuatu and overseas boat owners. Currently, they have to return to Australia or New Zealand to secure their boats during cyclones, but now they will be able to safely store their yachts and boats in the marina.

“It’s a great development for North Efate. It’s good for the community, as it will create a lot of jobs,” Barrat said.

“I believe it will be even better for tourism, helping the government generate more revenue, which is very important. Hopefully, some of that revenue can be used to fix the roads, as they are in poor condition.

“The best part is that this project will create many job opportunities for local villages, and the surrounding communities will greatly benefit from the opportunities generated by the Port of Havannah construction. It’s a positive development.”

Tal Milfirer, owner of Goodies Limited, informed the Daily Post that after the unloading of the machinery yesterday, the vessel will depart, and the equipment will be stored in a bonded customs area. Once cleared, work can begin. However, if the timing is too close to Christmas, they may have to postpone the start of work until next year, 2025.

“There were concerns about the environmental impact; however, we have our own permit,” he said.

“We have worked with the Environmental Department, Council of Ministers, SHEFA Provincial Government Council, and Land Management and Planning Committee. With the environment we already have some permits, and others are yet to be given,” he said.

There were also concerns about the land dispute. However, Chief Jeffry Pakoa Laelae of Tanoliu village told the Daily Post that most of the land has been leased for over 20 years. Despite the land being leased or in dispute, many people cannot farm on these lands due to these issues. At the same time, they have not benefited from the land because it is leased.

“This marina project is a big and new development for our community and for Vanuatu, as we have never experienced a marina project before. I have been to Fiji and seen the marina in Port Denarau, which attracts many tourists. We believe that Havannah is a place that should be developed as a tourist attraction, and the establishment of this marina is intended to serve as a pull factor, bringing tourists to our area in the northwest.

“From my experience as a bus driver, we have been promoting and suggesting only the southern part of Efate as a tourist attraction, which means most of the income from tourism goes to the southern part,” Chief Laelae said.

The chief added that the north of Efate has lacked many tourist attractions to draw interest. However, he believes that with this marina, it will bring more business and create more employment opportunities.