Pacific island countries, including Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga, are the most disaster-prone regions.
Sitting on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, one of the world’s most geologically active zones, these scattered islands in the Pacific Ocean are subject to frequent earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, and the effects of climate change, such as more intense storms and floods. Their location spread across the Pacific Islands, isolated by a vast expanse of the ocean, also contributes to their vulnerability.
Each natural disaster takes its toll, prolonging recovery for these island nations, which have little capacity or resources to support them. With residents and communities spread out across these islands and remote locations, this adds to their vulnerability and to the challenges of providing emergency and recovery support and initiatives to reach them.
Two recent strong earthquakes struck the Pacific Island nations. The first was a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that hit Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island, on March 20, 2026. The second was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred near Tonga on March 24, 2026. In response to the Tonga earthquake, the Tonga National Disaster Risk Management Office issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas, advising residents to move to higher ground or inland.
The earthquake in Espiritu Santo caused significant damage, including cracks in the airport’s airstrip and disruption to public infrastructure. Fortunately, while some residents sustained minor injuries, no serious harm was reported.
Pacific island nations’ exposure to and vulnerability to earthquakes and other natural events, along with their isolation, make their ports and marine infrastructure critical lifelines for the safe and efficient movement of essential freight and supplies.
However, these “hard” port infrastructure systems, made of rigid materials, are often damaged by climate change and seismic events, preventing access to critical relief supplies during disasters. Their construction, maintenance, and operation are also costly and time-consuming.
As an alternative to these fixed marinas and wharves, Marine Infrastructure, Australia, presents a floating marina’s as a flexible and cost-effective solution to the unique conditions of Pacific Island countries to handle seismic risks, tidal changes, and wave conditions.
These floating marinas leverage Australia’s decades of experience and technical innovation to offer resilient solutions customized for Pacific’s circumstances that are prone to cyclones, flooding, and earthquakes.
“Floating marinas can flexibly handle tidal changes and wave conditions, unlike rigid fixed structures that need costly protective works,” said John Hogan, Marine Structures Director. Hogan emphasized the opportunity to reduce seismic risk and project costs by promoting floating structures over fixed ones in the Pacific, where seismic design requirements increase budgets (Tawanakoro, 2025).
Floating marinas are manufactured in Australia and shipped as kits for local assembly and installation in Fiji and other Pacific Island nations. There is a plan to gradually transfer the manufacturing of various parts to Fiji, provided that adequate apprenticeship and training programs are established. This transition could create job opportunities and help develop additional skills within the local population.
The floating marina as an alternative to “hard” infrastructure offers flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and rapid recovery, enhancing Fiji’s and other Pacific Island’s resilience against natural disasters and extreme weather events.
Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, resist, and recover from disruptive events while minimizing their impacts. Resilient infrastructure refers to assets that can withstand, adapt to, and recover from both expected and unexpected events, such as earthquakes and cyclones, as quickly as possible, thereby enhancing communities’ resilience and better preparing them for future events.
In Pacific Island nations, decisions should support flexible, durable, and financially sustainable solutions that maintain the continuity of essential and day-to-day services and community operations during disasters, or as quickly as possible.
Sources
Tawanakoro, C. (2025, December 30). Revolutionising marine infrastructure to meet Pacific challenges. IB. Retrieved from https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/revolutionising-marine-infrastructure-to-meet-pacific-challenges/
Climate change makes our Pacific neighbours more susceptible to natural disasters. (2023, December 19). Emergency Alliance. Retrieved from https://emergencyalliance.org.nz/emergency-alliance/posts/climate-change-makes-our-pacific-neighbours-more-susceptible-to-natural-disasters
Blades, J. (2026, April 1). Questions over building safety after quake in Vanuatu’s north, as services slowly return. RNZ. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/591165/questions-over-building-safety-after-quake-in-vanuatu-s-north-as-services-slowly-return
No tsunami threat after deep 7.6 magnitude earthquake near Tonga. (2026, March 24). Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/earthquake-magnitude-76-strikes-tonga-islands-usgs-says-2026-03-24/
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