A new IFAN-funded pilot project will strengthen safety of navigation, marine weather forecasting and ocean information services in Solomon Islands’ Western Province.
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is supporting a new three-and-a-half-year initiative aimed at improving maritime safety and access to critical ocean and weather information for mariners and coastal communities in Solomon Islands.
The Enhancing Safety of Navigation and Ocean Information Services in the Western Province (SONOS-WP) Project brings together the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS), the Pacific Community (SPC), Western Provincial Government, local communities and maritime stakeholders.
Funded by IFAN, the project will combine improved Aids to Navigation with stronger marine forecasting, real-time ocean monitoring, updated nautical information and better dissemination of maritime safety information.
The project responds to a significant safety challenge in an island nation that depends heavily on maritime transport. Between 2015 and 2020, Solomon Islands recorded 463 small-craft search and rescue operations, resulting in 72 fatalities.
Thierry Nervale, Director of SIMA, said:
“Access to reliable weather, ocean and navigational information is essential for safe and sustainable maritime transport. This project will help communities make safer decisions at sea while strengthening maritime safety and supporting livelihoods across the Western Province.”
To address these challenges, the project will combine several elements that are critical to safer navigation: improved Aids to Navigation, stronger marine weather forecasting, real-time ocean monitoring, updated nautical information, and better dissemination of maritime safety information to communities and vessel operators.
It will also support the deployment of ocean-monitoring equipment, the development of more localised marine forecasting services, the installation of Aids to Navigation in high-risk areas, and stronger community awareness and early-warning systems.
Alick Harohiru, Director of SIMS, said:
“Reliable observations are the foundation of effective weather services. Through the SONOS-WP Project, we will strengthen weather monitoring in Western Province, enabling better forecasts and earlier warnings to support safer communities, livelihoods, and climate resilience.”
Developed under the SIMA–SIMS Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024, SONOS-WP reflects a coordinated national approach to maritime safety, linking navigational infrastructure with ocean and weather information, institutional cooperation and community engagement.
For IFAN, this systems-based approach is central to the value of the project.
Catherine Mulvihill, Chief Executive Officer of IFAN, said:
“This project reflects the kind of long-term collaboration needed to strengthen maritime safety in complex island environments. At IFAN, we see safety at sea as more than infrastructure alone. It depends on strong systems, reliable information, local ownership, and cooperation across institutions and communities. By bringing these elements together, this initiative has the potential not only to strengthen resilience in the Solomon Islands, but also in other regions facing similar realities.”
Through the project, IFAN is building on its wider commitment to support practical, locally grounded solutions that strengthen maritime safety, resilience and long-term capability.
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About the Project Partners
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing maritime safety, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening global navigation capabilities. IFAN ensures safer and more efficient shipping routes while minimizing environmental risks by supporting projects focused on enhancing Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) frameworks, developing technical expertise, and providing AtoN infrastructure. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and technical expertise, IFAN plays a pivotal role in securing safe, sustainable global waterways and safeguarding the world’s ocean for future generations.
The Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) is the national maritime administration responsible for promoting safe, secure, and environmentally responsible shipping and maritime activities throughout the Solomon Islands. SIMA works to strengthen maritime safety, marine environmental protection, navigational services, and compliance with international maritime standards while supporting sustainable economic development and the well-being of coastal communities.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS), under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, is the national authority responsible for providing weather, climate, marine meteorological and early warning services. SIMS supports the safety and resilience of communities through reliable weather observations, forecasting and climate information across Solomon Islands.
