Launching ceremony for GIZ Pacific Island Supply Vessel held in Geoje Island, South Korea

The consortium of Asia Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and the naval design company Kostec Co., Ltd., signed the contract with GIZ in July 2022 to deliver an innovative sailing cargo ship for the needs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)-funded project "Transitioning to Low Carbon Sea Transport" implemented by GIZ, RMI's Ministry for Transportation, Communication and Information Technology, and commissioned by the Federal German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Production (BMUVB), and various partners. The project supports in delivering RMI’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Earlier this year, the RMI Cabinet has endorsed the Domestic Maritime Transport Roadmap, that lays out the path for net-zero sea transportation in the Marshall Islands until 2050.

After the launching ceremony, the shipyard and all relevant project partners will continue with the production of the vessel until the next milestone, the handing over of the vessel from the GIZ to the Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation (MISC), which will operate the ship from March 2024 onwards mostly in the domestic waters of the Marshall Islands.