BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) are new standards for a ship’s safety navigation, as the globe is moving away from paper charts, as in the past.

The project for the Development support of ENC for Honiara and Noro Port in the Solomon Islands is funded under the SIMA-JICA project.

The primary purpose of this project is to improve Maritime Navigational Safety, where a Hydrographic Survey is being conducted and an ENC is produced purposely for Maritime Navigation.

Speaking at the launch of the ENC at the Seminar on E-Nevigation on our ocean: the contribution of the SIMA-JICA project at the Heritage Park on Tuesday, SIMA senior officer for safety of navigation, Mr Malesi Mani, said the transition from paper charts to digital ENC systems is not just a technological shift.

“It is a revolution in maritime safety and economic efficiency,” he said.

He said that Maritime safety is not just about protecting vessels and seafarers, but it directly influences trade, economic growth and the prosperity of a nation.

“As such, when we strive for sustainable development, this type of project plays a crucial role in strengthening infrastructure, modernising navigation systems and fostering international cooperation,” said Mani.

He said that the current maritime status in the Solomon Islands is 240 Domestic Vessels, thousands of small boats, 3 international Ports, 258 berth wharves, 744,407 population on 300 + Islands and 1.6 million km2 of area, and 98% of it is just the Ocean.

“We are dependent on the ocean for our livelihood and survival. With that, in 20 to 50 years’ time, this number will double, resulting in an increase in the volume of maritime traffic in and around our islands,” he said.

“Therefore, to control and manage the volume of our maritime traffic, we need to map all areas of our water to improve the maritime safety of our mariners,” said Mani.

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