Organisational Overview

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Ports Authority (RMIPA) is responsible for the operations and maintenance of Amata Kabua/Marshall Islands International Airport (MAJ), located in the capitol of Majuro. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies (MTCIT) is a supervisory agency of RMIPA, being responsible for transportation and communication policies in RMI. The following chart shows MTCIT organization chart:

Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) belongs to MTCIT. DCA is responsible for the aviation policy making and regulations in RMI. It has seven employees including the director of DCA. The following chart shows the DCA organization chart.

 

RMIPA was established by merging the Marshall Islands Airports Authority and Marshall Islands Ports Authority under the RMI Ports Authority Act in 2003. It is responsible for the establishment, maintenance and operations of the Amata Kabua International Airport (AKIA) and the ports at Majuro, Ebeye and Jaluit. RMIPA reports to the Minister of Transportation, Communications and Information Technologies and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by the Cabinet. The day-to-day operations are managed by a Director and staff of approximately 80. The following chart  shows RMIPA’s organization. Within RMIPA, operations of the airport are carried out by the departments under the Airport Manager, and maintenance of the airport facilities is carried out by the maintenance department under the Fleet & Facilities Manager. The department is also responsible for the maintenance of the seaports. Organisational chart of RIMPA:

List of authorised airfields

Airports Authorized Operations[KG1] 

Air Marshall Islands (AMI)

Marshall Islands Aviation consists of a single Marshallese based domestic operator, Air Marshall Islands (AMI) and has no international airline. Amata Kabua Airport (AKIA) in Majuro is the only civilian international airport in RMI and is the base for Air Marshall Islands. AMI provides a weekly service to outer islands with biweekly services to Kwajalein/Ebeye.

AMI provides domestic air transport services from AKIA to Kwajalein four times a week, and to 23 airfields on other atolls and islands once a week or biweekly:

CODE	ATOLL
MAJ	Majuro
KWA	Kwajalein
UIT	Jaluit
WTE	Wotje
AIC	Airok
KIO	Kili
WJA	Woja
MIJ	Mili
EBO	Ebon
MAV	Maloelap
MJE	Majkin
LIK	Likiep
LML	Lae
AUL	Aur
NDK	Namdrik
AIM	Ailuk
UTK	Utirik
MJB	Mejit
UJE	Ujae
EAL	Elenak
WTO	Wotho
JAT	Jabat
EJT	Enejet
JEJ	Jeh
KBT	Kaben
ENT	Enewetak
RNP	Rongelap
BII	Bikini

Helicopter Operations

With the continued increase in tuna fishing, Majuro Airport has become the RMI base for helicopters servicing the fishing fleet.

The helicopters are privately owned by Vertols System Ltd and are under contract by tuna vessel owners as observation platforms. Helicopters are generally MB 500 with 400 km range capacity with a 900 kg payload. A maintenance hanger is adjacent to the Amata Kabua Airport.

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List  and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

The Directorate of Civil Aviation is the supervising authority for aircraft operations into and out of the Marshall Islands. Kwajalein Base is restricted and its mission as missile defence precludes it from operation as a general US airbase. Communication and liaison with the base commander will be required to make a further determination.

Aircraft certification and operational requirements in Majuro are governed by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) and are specified in the Marshall Islands Civil Aviation Regulations (MICAR). Several chapters of the MICAR are applicable dependent on the aircraft type and the intended scope of operation. Operation of a foreign registered aircraft is possible.

The process should begin with an aircraft landing request to the DCA, describing your organization, the owner/operator of aircraft, intended type of operation (private, charter, scheduled, etc.) and intended aircraft model and/or type. The certification process can be relatively quick to allow commencement of operations, particularly for non-commercial purposes such as for surveys, disaster relief, emergency response and similar programs.

Air Charter

There is one national airline, i.e. Air Marshall Islands AMI) and three foreign airlines operate scheduled air transport in RMI. Types of aircraft used in RMI are shown below:

Airline	Aircraft type
Air Marshall Islands	DHC-8-100 (A-III), Do-228-212 (A-II)
United Airlines	B-737-800 (D-III)
Nauru Airlines	B-737-300 (C-III)
Asia Pacific Airlines*	B757-200F (C-IV)

*Currently suspended

 

International services are provided at AKIA and Kwajalein International Airport. United Airlines operate four round trip a week between Guam and Honolulu with intermediate stops in Chuuk, Ponhpei, Kosrae, Kwajalein and AKIA. Nauru Airlines operate three times a week from Nauru. Asia Pacific Airlines (currently suspended) used to operate freighters from Guam to Honolulu via AKIA.

Air Marshall Islands has three aircraft available for charter in humanitarian response situations:

1. Dornier 228

REGISTRATION: V7-9207                 

AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)

MODEL TYPE: Do-228-212               

FUEL TYPE: JET A-1

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1991                             

FUEL BURN PER HOUR: 560/PPH

MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: OCTOBER               

MAX FUEL: 630.3 USG (USABLE)

SEATS: 18                              

TAXI FUEL: UNK

CRUISING SPEED: 170 KNOTS                    

MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK

PAYLOAD: 5,113LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)    

DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.

MTOW: 14,110 LBS               

 

2. Dornier 228

REGISTRATION:        V7-1512                     

AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)

MODEL TYPE: Do-228-212               

FUEL TYPE: JET A-1

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1997                             

FUEL BURN PER HOUR: 560/PPH

MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: JUNE                        

MAX FUEL: 630.3 USG (USABLE)

SEATS: 18                              

TAXI FUEL: UNK

CRUISING SPEED: 165 KNOTS                    

MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK

PAYLOAD: 5,206 LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)   

DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.

MTOW:           14,110 LBS     

 

3. DASH 8

REGISTRATION:        V7-0210                     

AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)

MODEL TYPE: DHC8-102                 

FUEL TYPE: JET A-1

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1990                             

FUEL BURN PER HOUR: UNK

MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: MAY                        

MAX FUEL: 835 USG (USABLE)

SEATS: 34                              

TAXI FUEL: UNK

CRUISING SPEED: 190 KNOTS                    

MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK

PAYLOAD: 10,672 LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)  

DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.

MTOW: 34,500 LBS               

A sealed road network exists only on the main islands of Majuro, Kwajalein (US Base) and Ebeye. Roads are mostly unpaved and are made up of coral laterite. Many islands have no or few vehicles and therefore no vehicular roads. Transport around the outer islands is usually by walking track with goods being moved using wheelbarrows or push carts on the smaller atolls with larger atolls having pickups available.

Sealed roads are in average condition. Drainage exists but large puddles of water appear after heavy rain.

Some of the main companies, such as Pacific International Inc and Robert Reimers Inc, have private commercial vehicles. Local supermarkets also have small delivery vans.

Distance Matrix

Travel Time in Major Towns
Capital	Road and travel time
Majuro	2 hours or 50 km end to end
Ebeye	1 hour or 10 km end to end

Road Security

Traffic moves at a 40 km max speed on the island of Majuro and Ebeye, creating a very low risk of accidents.

Availability of storage facilities is very limited. New projects are challenging due to limited land and complex ownership structure. All land use requires the permission of the chief, otherwise referred to as an “Iroji”, who controls the use and distribution of land.

Container storage is predominant on the large atolls of Majuro, Ebeye, and Jaluit.  Larger permanent warehouse structures also only exist in Majuro. Container handling equipment exists at the ports of Majuro (Delap). Kwajalein Atoll also has warehousing and storage and container handling equipment; however, this is for exclusive use of the US Army Garrison based there (USAG).

The Government Procurement and Supply department under the Ministry of Finance operates a warehouse in Delap dock to store all incoming government purchases.

Small transit storage facilities exist at Delap dock in Majuro belonging to Marshall Islands Stevedores Company (MISCO) for incoming international commercial freight. This space is not available for temporary storage, however, Majuro Stevedores and Transport Company (MSTCO) can allocate space to storage of containers at Delap Dock.

Outer Islands

Container storage is also almost non-existent on the outer islands as vessels large enough to carry containers cannot anchor alongside dock except for Likiep. No container handling equipment is available on outer islands.

Storage on the outer islands consists of small copra warehouses and small storage facilities at schools or churches. In case of an emergency, temporary storage and distribution points could potentially make use of facilities at schools and churches.

For more information on storage company contact details, please see the following link:

4.6 Storage and Milling Companies Contact List

Commercial Storage

There are no commercial companies offering storage services in RMI. Storage space is owned by some entities like supermarkets and construction companies for their own purposes. 

Location	Owner	Available for Rent	Capacity	Type	Access	Condition
Uliga Dock Majuro	Marshall Islands Shipping Company	Yes - depending on space availability	400 m²	Steel frame steel-clad Warehouse with pallet racking and forklift	Flat access	Good
Majuro	K and K Super Market	No	4- 600 m²	Steel framed and steel-clad Supermarket store	Raised access	Good
Delap Dock, Majuro	Marshall island Stevedores	No	400 m²	Steel Framed and steel-clad Racking and floor storage	Flat	Good
Delap Dock, Majuro	Tobolar Copra Processors	No	n/a	A frame used for storing copra	Flat	Moderately good
Majuro	PII	No	n/a	Concrete warehouse	Raised	n/a
Majuro	Reimers	No	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations

IOM is the only organization that currently holds prepositioned stock in the Marshall Islands shipping company warehouse at Uliga Dock in the MISCO warehouse. Red Cross uses containers to store emergency supplies.

Location	Organization	Sharing Possibility	Capacity	Type	Access	Condition
Uliga Dock Majuro	IOM/ Marshall Islands shipping company NDMO is using part of the space	Yes - depending on availability	300-350 m² 3 x 40 ft climate-controlled containers	Concrete warehouse and climate-controlled containers	Flat Inside MISCO warehouse	Good
Possible MSU sites
Laura	Tobolar Copra Processors Soap plant area	n/a		Possible site for erection of MSU in emergency response	Flat	Grassed area
Majuro Airport Adjacent to Heliport Apron	Ports Authority	n/a		Possible site for erection of MSU in emergency response	Flat	Grassed hard surface

Public Sector Storage

The only public sector storage available is the Procurement and Supply Department warehouse at Delap Dock.

NDMO indicated that there are plans to construct a warehouse and a land plot had been identified, however, there is no specific timeframe.

Location	Ministry / Agency	Use Possibility	Capacity	Type	Access	Condition
Delap Dock	Ministry of Finance /Procurement Department	Yes	100 – 200 m²	Steel framed steel clad Racking available	Flat	Good
Majuro Hospital	Ministry of Health	Yes	150 – 200 m² + 15 - 20 20’ containers	Cold storage and General Cargo + containers Racking available	Flat	Good

Cold Chain

Cold chain facilities in RMI are limited. The Ministry of Health runs a pharmacy inside the Majuro and Ebeye Hospital for storage of blood and vaccines. Supermarkets and tuna industry use refrigerated containers extensively.

Storage Facilities Pictures

Marshall Islands Shipping Company Warehouse at the Uliga Dock, Majuro
Ministry of Finance Warehouse at the Delap Dock
Ministry of Health container storage outside the Majuro Hospital
Marshall Island Stevedores Storage
Storage and Handling Delap Dock Majuro
Tobolar Copra Warehouse at the Delap Dock, Majuro
Second Tobolar Copra Warehouse in Majuro
Typical Copra Storage on Outer Islands