30th August 2026 – The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) convened a Franchise Shipping Scheme (FSS) Operators’ Workshop on 19th August to re-align vessel operators with the core objectives of the scheme and reinforce strict contractual compliance across all seven franchise routes.
Established under the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority Act 2018 (Part 4, sections 39–44), the FSS provides government subsidies to ensure essential maritime services reach remote regions where commercial shipping is otherwise unviable.
During the workshop, the FSS Manager Barnabas Maraka highlighted key operational priorities for contracted operators:
- Strict Adherence to Schedules: Voyage schedules are legally binding parts of operator contracts. Unauthorized schedule deviations or prioritizing non-FSS commercial charters over scheduled franchise trips constitute direct contractual breaches.
- Utilization of Alternate Vessels: Operators were reminded of their contractual commitment to deploy nominated alternate vessels during mechanical breakdowns to prevent prolonged service disruptions in remote communities.
- Regulation of Passenger & Cargo Rates: Operators are required to strictly charge only the public fares approved in their bidding documents to preserve the objective of the scheme.
- Performance-Based Verification & Reporting: Subsidy disbursements remain tied to complete voyage verification. Operators must submit detailed voyage reports—including logbooks, passenger/cargo manifests, call point confirmations, and fuel receipts—within seven (7) days of completing each voyage.
Manager Mr. Maraka said that the scheme is as much a social equity mechanism as it is an economic driver.
“Because public funds are expended, full transparency, proactive communication, and accountable service delivery are essential to ensuring our remote outer island communities remain reliably connected to Honiara.”
There is a total of seven routes under FSS:
– Route 1 covering Temotu outer islands
– Route 2 for Ontong Java and Ndai (Malaita Outer Islands)
– Route 3: Servicing Sikaiana Island
– Route 4 covers a long round trip for the Shortland Islands.
– Route 5 to Rennell Bellona Province
– Route 6 covering Makira Island Weather coast
– Route 7 servicing Guadalcanal weather-coast communities
The FSS distinguishes between two types of shipping services:
– Near-coastal shipping: Serving outer islands such as Temotu, Malaita Outer Islands, Rennell Bellona, and Shortland Islands.
– Inshore services: Covering round-island trips for coastal areas like Makira and Guadalcanal weather coasts.
This shipping scheme will also undergo a comprehensive review highlighting the Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability, and Transformation’s (GREAT) productive sector policy’s recognition of the role that reliable and efficient shipping services play in fostering economic growth and social development, especially in remote and economically challenging areas.
