Micronesia, Federated States of
2.5 Micronesia Waterway Assessment
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FSM is made up of over 600 Islands of which 73 are inhabited.  Use of waterways as interisland shipping is the only method of transporting any goods over 50-100Kg. 

Inter island shipping is crucial and used to get goods and people between main islands and outer islands. International shipping lines operating an international route from Guam Japan and Hawaii offer a defacto domestic service if needed.  

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Micronesia Government Contact List

Company Information

Interisland shipping in FSM is the primary link between the main island capital islands and the outer islands. The State-owned operator, Department of Transport Communications and Infrastructure, is the only scheduled interstate shipping operator in FSM. There are several private companies operating in Chuuk state for interisland transport to the Chuuk Lagoon and outer islands. These are ex fishing vessels and can carry small amounts of passengers and freight. The DTCI own six vessels carrying passengers and cargo. Some outer islands are only serviced twice yearly depending on schedule. 

Caroline Voyager based in Pohnpei and operated on a flexible schedule depending on need. Dedicated freighter 870 MT intra and inter State 

Micronesian Navigators based in Pohnpei and operated on a flexible schedule depending on need 780 MT, 420 pax 

Hapilmohol-2 Based in Yap carries 400 MT cargo and 400 pax 

Hapilmohol-1 1137 MT cargo Outer Islands of Yap State, 180 pax 

Lady Minto – 75 MT Cargo/Passenger intra and inter State, 27 pax 

Chief Mailo – 1088 MT Cargo/Passenger. Provides service to the outer Island of Chuuk State,  180 pax 

Matson Shipping, Kyowa and to a lesser degree Marianas Shipping line can transfer containerised cargo between state capitals although this is rare and not generally undertaken. 

IOM have built 2 lagoon island barges, which are shallow draft. Their use is limited to lagoon operation and are currently stationed in Chuuk they have a 36MT load capacity and RoRo ability 

Vital FSM Petroleum has 2 vessels that are available for charter based in Chuuk 

SeaWatch 16 MT, 14 m LOA, 45 pax ,20knt cruising speed 

Karya Etam Sebelang GRT 275, 40 m, Landing craft intra state 

For more information on waterway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.4 Micronesia Port and Waterways Companies Contact List

Passenger Carrying Capacity

DTCI

Vital FSM Petroleum

Number of Passenger Vessels
< 20 Passengers

Caroline Voyager (intra-state and inter-state) 


Number of Passenger Vessels
< 50 Passengers

Lady Minto(intra-state and inter-state) 

SeaWatch (Chuuk) 

Number of Passenger Vessels
< 100 Passengers

Chief Mailo                

Chuuk outer Is.) 


Number of Passenger Vessels
> 100 Passengers

Hapilmohol-2(RoRo) 400MT 

Hapilmohol-1 (RoRo) 


Cargo Carrying Capacity


DTCI

Chuuk Private

IOM

Trade Winds

Boats

Number of Boats

2 3

Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity
(MT / m3)

Hapilmohol-2 (RoRo) 

Hapilmohol-1 (RoRo) 1137 MT 

Possible 100 mt each 

Barges

Number of Barges



3 Various

Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity
(MT / m3)



IOM x 2 @36 MT 

Vital barge GRT 275 (Chuuk based intra-state) 

Estimate 100 mt carrying capacity

Tugs

Number of Tugs




1

Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity
(MT / m3)





Travel Time Matrix

Travel Time from Main port to other major Ports on VESSEL TYPE (hours)


Pohnpei

Chuuk

Yap

Kosrae

Pohnpei


2-3 1-2 2-3

Chuuk

2-3
4-6 1-2

Yap

1-2 4-6
6-8

Kosrae

2-3 4-6 6-8

Key Routes

Key Route Information

Domestic / International West to East route


From:Yap

To:Chuuk

From:Chuuk

To:Pohnpei

From:Pohnpei

To:Kosrae

Total Distance (km)

1500

708

581

Width (m)

NA NA NA

River Flow

(m³ / second)

NA

NA

NA

Seasonal Effects

Nov April

Cyclone season

Nov April

Cyclone season

Nov April

Cyclone season

Maximum Weight and

Size of Vessels

15000-20000MT

15000-20000MT

15000-20000MT

Regular Traffic

Passenger / Cargo

Yes

Yes

Yes

Companies Operating

Along the Route

Matson

Kyowa

DTCI

Matson

Kyowa

DTCI

Matson

Kyowa

DTCI

Security Concerns

No

No

No

Main Ports

Yap/Chuuk

Chuuk/Pohnpei

Pohnpei/Kosrae

Port Information

Key Port Information Also see Port information


Pohnpei

Chuuk

Yap

Kosrae

Location

Pohnpei

Chuuk

Yap

Kosrae

Contact Information

Baron Mendiola 

Seaport Manager (PPA) 

baron.mendiola@ppa.fm 

 

Tos Nakayama (DTPW)  renomw1965@gmail.com 

 

 

Theo Thinifel (DTPW)  yapstatepwtdirector@gmail.com 

 

Jason Selo Seaport Manager (PPA) selojason@yahoo.com 

 

Connections with Other

Transport Means

Local Road/ Airport

Local Road/ Airport

Road/Airport

Road/Airport

Storage Capacity (m2 and m3)

1200m2

700m2

200m2

 600m2

Handling Equipment

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Customs Clearance Available

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

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