Introduction
The Republic of Vanuatu relies on its inter-island shipping services as the major means of transport, connecting its outer islands to the central port hubs, Port Vila and Luganville. The shipping provides routes for cargo shipment and other services deliveries to various communities living on the outer-islands. Inter-island shipping supports the trade between the outer islands and also supports the international trade of Vanuatu.
Not all communities living on the outer islands are fortunate to have regular shipping services. This is due to longer distances and limited products or produce which cannot sustain shipping services costs on such routes. Though a number of ships do engaged on uneconomical routes at times, no regular schedules were adopted and voyages are at the operators own costs. Some of these faced issues were resolve by working corporately with the ship operators, owners, and communities.