Chinese government provides AUD $4.54 million for the Fit for Purpose Landing Craft for the Line and Phoenix Group project in Kiribati

Project narrative

In the Kiribati Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport, and Tourism Development & State-Owned Enterprise's Strategic Plan for 2021-2024, the purchase of a fit-for purpose landing craft to service the Line & Phoenix Groups was listed a goal, with an estimated price tag of USD 2,000,000. Then, in the government of Kiribati's 2022 Development Budget, presented on November 30th, 2021 it was stated that China will provide USD 2.4 million for the Fit for Purpose Landing Craft for the Line and Phoenix Group project. On August 15th, 2022, the Kiribati National Fishing Line released photos from the contact signing ceremony. The value of the 39 meter landing craft was stated to be AUD 4.54 million. The construction of the craft will be done by Zhoushan Ningshing Ship Building and Repairing Co., Ltd.. Construction began after the signing of the contract and is expected to take ten months, with a projected end date of May 2023. On Oct 21, 2023, a handover ceremony was held for the delivery of the finished vessel to the Kiribati National Shipping Line (KNSL). The landing craft will have a carrying capacity of 100 passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo. It will be based in Kiritimati Island and facilitate transportation of passengers and other infrastructure equipment along the Line and Phoenix Islands, two island groups that are part of Kiribati's outer islands. The development of these islands is managed by the Ministry for Line and Phoenix Islands Development (MLPID or Linnix)