BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The commissioning of the new Kulabule Jetty marks a significant milestone in Government’s efforts to strengthen maritime transport infrastructure across Solomon Islands said Minister for Infrastructure Development Ricky Fuo’o.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony on Wednesday, Minister Fuo’o described the facility as a major addition to the country’s maritime infrastructure and a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to provid safe, reliable and efficient transport services.
“Maritime transport remains the lifeline of our nation.
“As an archipelagic country, we rely heavily on maritime transportation to connect islands, communities, businesses and essential services. The efficient movement of people and goods is crucial to our social and economic development,” he said.
The Minister said that the Honiara Domestic Port is the busiest transport hub in the country, handling thousands of passengers and large volumes of cargo each week.
He said growing demand requires continued investment in port infrastructure.
Fuo’o welcomed Solomon Ports’ long-term development plans and indicated support to review the Solomon Ports Act to align with changing industry demands and future infrastructure investment needs.
The new jetty measures 50 metres by 50 metres and was fully funded by Solomon Ports at a cost of $28 million. Designed through collaboration between BECA Consultants and Solomon Ports, the project was constructed by Solomon Ports engineers and project staff over an 18-month period.
The Minister praised the strong local involvement in the project, describing it as a testament to the growing technical capabilities of Solomon Islanders.
“I’m a big advocate for local content. Our infrastructure must be built by Solomon Islanders and driven by our own people,” he said.
The facility has been named in honour of the late Captain Judah Kulabule, a long-serving Harbour Master whose contributions to the maritime sector played a key role in the development of port operations in Solomon Islands.
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