Vanuatu and Tonga strengthen implementation of IMO instruments

Vanuatu and Tonga have taken significant steps to strengthen maritime legislation and advance the implementation of IMSAS corrective actions through a series of national workshops and practical exercises delivered under the IMO–Republic of Korea SMART-C Leaders Project.

National workshops on flag State implementation were held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga (7–10 July 2026) and Port Vila, Vanuatu (13–16 July 2026). Participants reviewed national legislation related to key IMO conventions, including SOLAS in Tonga and MARPOL in Vanuatu, and discussed practical measures to strengthen implementation, administrative arrangements and institutional coordination.

A key outcome of the workshops was the establishment of national legislative drafting working groups in both countries. Supported by the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), the working groups will take forward the review and drafting of national maritime legislation, helping to translate the workshop outcomes into concrete legislative reforms that support the effective implementation of IMO instruments.

Read the full IMO news article: Vanuatu and Tonga strengthen implementation of IMO instruments