Shipping in Bubble Bubble – Resetting Pacific thinking on shipping

 

Alison Nuttall is the Director for Sailing for Sustainability and Researcher on GHG Emissions across the Pacific

I posted Pete Nuttall’s analysis from last week’s Fiji Sun (“Can we build another Reef Endeavour?” 27/5/20) to the Seafarers Fiji Facebook group. His think piece on now being the time to revitalise Fiji’s ship building industry certainly started a conversation. Comments came pouring in, both from locals but also from Fiji’s seafaring diaspora, with recollections from the days of building the Reef Endeavour, demonstrating that Fiji still has a wealth of experience and knowledge, albeit much overseas-based.  Comments also highlighted the need for a combined package: training, yards, supporting services and industry to name just a few.

This week I read Fei Tevi’s article (https://gripinequality.org/2020/05/17-miniseries-on-covid-19-and-inequality-responses-from-the-pacific-ocean/) on the Pacific’s response to the double whammy of covid-19 and TC Harold, and his clear articulation that now is the time to reset the Pacific’s thinking on development. He highlights the region’s strengths being in culture and community, reciprocity, and ability to respond in times of need (he gives the example of Luganville providing huge quantities of yams, and other crops and essentials for Pentecost post TC Harold).  

Fei also highlights the positive elements of culture and community that can provide an alternative model to the vulnerable economic models of today (the consequences of over reliance on international tourism as an example in Fiji and Vanuatu) and the need for a research-based strategic pivot towards a covid-free Pacific Economic Zone. Just like earlier generations of Pacific deep-thinkers such as Epeli Hau’ofa were asking 30 years ago, Fei asks if we are finally ready to stop thinking we are totally dependent on outside help before designing our new normal. It’s an inciteful and thought-provoking piece of writing and Fei’s wise words are worth reading.  

Last week Christina Figueres, (UN lead negotiator for the Paris Agreement) warned that globally we have 18 months left – with the trillions being spent on covid-recovery representing the “last chance to turn away from economic models with dangerously high emission levels”. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018748493/world-has-18-months-to-address-climate-change-former-un-chief).

 It is clear that we have only a very small window of opportunity for resetting the current development model, and that the shipping sector is a fundamental and essential part of development and economic and social wellbeing and connectivity, allowing reciprocity and exchange between communities in response to need (whether that be a result of pandemic or severe weather or for everyday trade).  Some of our Pacific neighbours are reliant on donations from the developed world for their ships, some, such as Fiji, have been able to purchase new vessels or subsidise the private sector from Government budgets.  The vast majority of our region’s ships are still old and inefficient. 

The concept of having a Pacific islands economic or trade “bubble” (that maybe does or doesn’t include NZ and Australia for the moment) and investing in rebuilding our capacity to build our own new green boats inside the region, enabling inter-regional trade, is a paradigm shift from the pre-covid “normal”.  But Fiji’s “once in a lifetime” opportunity to press the reset button on where our development focus lies ends this week with the 5 June deadline for submissions to the 2020-21 budget (to be sent to budgetconsultation@economy.gov.fj).

 As governments in the region look to stimulate national economies, millions of dollars are going to be invested in various parts of the economy. The questions are which parts and what should be the focus?  Applying the wisdom of Fei Tevi would say put some of the money into a long term programme for building low carbon boats for the Pacific Islands, and the seafarers to sail and maintain them, so that when the next pandemic or severe tropical cyclone hits we have the resilience within the region to support each other, and to reduce our dependency on “development” aid and disaster response from outside.