2.5 Cook Islands Waterways
Company Information Travel Time Matrix
There are no ‘internal’ waterways in the Cook Islands however as a nation that is formed by an ‘Island Group’ interisland water transport along with air travel are the only forms of transportation for people and the main form of transport for goods within in the country.
Ferries and landing craft are used extensively for transportation of people and cargo. Many of the outer Islands do not have docking facilities for large ships and therefore transhipment using small boats and barges from ships anchored off, to beach or wharf is the norm. Landing craft are the preferred option for heavy cargo / vehicle transportation.
Private shipping companies operate non-scheduled inter-island cargo and passenger services, based on demand. Generally they visit the Northern Islands on a 2 monthly basis and the closer Southern Group weekly.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Company Information
There are 2 companies operating freight shipping services from the Port in Rarotonga, one of which, Taio Shipping Company, has duel purpose vessels fitted for passenger service as well. Due to the large distances and smaller cargo volumes to the outer islands services are cargo dependent on sailing frequency. The other, Cook Islands General Transport’s sea freight division, UMA shipping, operates a barge (landing craft) fitted with 5MT crane. They also have a 12m landing craft that is used to access shallow (5m draft) outer island harbours. A 40 MT mobile crane is used to launch the smaller landing craft from the barge and then load heavy cargo from barge to landing craft for transport to shore.
For more information on waterway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List
Passenger Carrying Capacity
Taio Shipping Company Cook Islands General Transport
(UMA Shipping)
Number of N/a N/a
Passenger Vessels
< 20 Passengers
Number of 1 x 30 pax N/a
Passenger Vessels (M.V Lady Moana)
< 50 Passengers
Number of 1 x 50 pax N/a
Passenger Vessels M.V Maungaroa
< 100 Passengers
Number of N/a N/a
Passenger Vessels
> 100 Passengers
Cargo Carrying Capacity
Taio Shipping Company Cook Islands General Transport
Boats
Number of Boats 2 N/a
Tonnage / Volume M.V Lady Moana 180MT N/a
M.V Maungaroa 180MT Carrying Capacity (MT / m3)
Page 1 Barges / Landing Craft
Number of Barges/Landing Craft N/a 2 x Landing Craft
Tonnage / Volume N/a 1 x 400MT 468m3 (12 x 20” containers)
Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) 1 x 12MT 39m3 (1 x 20’ container)
Tugs
Number of Tugs N/a N/a
Tonnage / Volume N/a N/a
Carrying Capacity (MT / m3)
M.V Lady Moana
Page 2 M.V Maungaroa
Cook Islands General Transport Barge (Landing Craft)
Travel Time Matrix
Travel Time from Main port to other Ports/Islands on Domestic Cargo Vessel, Fishing Vessels. Average of 7 knots.
FROM PORT AVATIU, RAROTONGA
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Distance: Note: All measurements are taken in nautical miles Sailing time: Note: Sailing time is worked on distance/average (nm) to the nearest point of land. speed and pending on the weather.
E.g. Aitutaki - 140nm/7knots = 20hours of sailing time to Aitutaki. To
Aitutaki 140nm 20 hours.
Atiu 116nm 19.3 hours
Manuae 124nm 17.7 hours
Mauke 150nm 21.4 hours
Mangaiia 110nm 15.7 hours
Mitiaro 142nm 20.2 hours
116nm 19.3 hours
Takutea
Manihiki 650nm 92.85 hours/3.8 days
Nassau 673nm 96.14 hours/4.0 days
Palmerston 270nm 38.5 hours/1.6 days
Penrhyn 737nm 105.3 hours/4.4 days
Pukapuka 715nm 102.14 hours/4.2 days
Rakahanga 674nm 96.28 hours/4.0 days
Suwarrow 513nm 73.28 hours/3.05 days
As there are no ‘internal’ waterways in the Cook Islands, the remainder of this section is not applicable.
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