Samoa is among countries benefitting from new electronic maps.
On Thursday, New Zealand's Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson welcomed the completion of electronic navigational charts for the south-west Pacific.
In a press release, Mr. Williamson said maritime safety has long been a concern in the region, with many charts no longer meeting the needs of shipping in the area.
He said the problem has worsened through the increase in large cruise vessels navigating the poorly-charted region.
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The International Maritime Organisation set 2012 - 2018 as the deadline for certain vessels - particularly passenger vessels, tankers and other large ships - to transfer from paper-based navigation to the sole use of electronic charts.
Under the New Zealand aid programme initiative, Land Information New Zealand developed charts for Samoa, Niue, Tonga, the Cook Islands and Tokelau.
Minister of Pacific Islands Affairs Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said that until now these areas have relied on paper charts only, and New Zealand’s aid commitment to support tourism made it imperative they be converted to electronic form.
“While these charts have limitations due to the age of the original data, Land Information New Zealand is continuing hydrographic risk assessment work to prioritise areas for survey.
“This will determine the nature and scope of chart improvements.”
Risk assessments have been carried out in Vanuatu, and L.I.N.Z. will soon finish risk assessment work in Tonga.
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