Transport in Vanuatu
Encyclopedia
Vanuatu
's undeveloped road system, with fewer than 100 miles of paved roads, consists mostly of dirt tracks suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Every island has one or two short airstrips where Vanair
’s Twin Otter planes land two or three times weekly. In addition, every island has a small port or wharf where small cargo ships and boats regularly dock. After one arrives at these locations, transportation is usually via pickup truck, foot, or small boat. Bicycles are becoming popular in Vanuatu. Port Vila
and Luganville
have numerous taxis and mass-transit vans. There are no railways in Vanuatu, although there was a small rail line on Efate
during the colonial era.
The country's main harbors are Forari
, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo
).
Highways:
total:
1,070 km
paved:
256 km
unpaved:
814 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine:
total:
78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,266,634 GRT/
ships by type:
bulk 27, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquified gas 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 9, vehicle carrier 6 (1999 est.)
note:
a flag of convenience
registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece 3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998 est.)
Airports:
32 (1999 est.) (See Bauerfield International Airport
.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
29
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
11
under 914 m:
17 (1999 est.)
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
's undeveloped road system, with fewer than 100 miles of paved roads, consists mostly of dirt tracks suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Every island has one or two short airstrips where Vanair
Vanair
Vanair was a domestic airline based in Vanuatu. The airline flew to 29 destinations on 18 of Vanuatu's 83 islands, and was wholly owned by the Vanuatu government.- History :...
’s Twin Otter planes land two or three times weekly. In addition, every island has a small port or wharf where small cargo ships and boats regularly dock. After one arrives at these locations, transportation is usually via pickup truck, foot, or small boat. Bicycles are becoming popular in Vanuatu. Port Vila
Port Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
and Luganville
Luganville
Luganville, called "Santo" by people from Vanuatu's northern islands who use Luganville as their big city, and called "Kanal" by rural residents of the large island of Espiritu Santo, is the second largest city in Vanuatu. The population is .Luganville is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports,...
have numerous taxis and mass-transit vans. There are no railways in Vanuatu, although there was a small rail line on Efate
Éfaté
Efate is an island in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Maliki. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national...
during the colonial era.
The country's main harbors are Forari
Forari
Forari is one of the three most used ports in Vanuatu. It is on the eastern end of Éfaté Island, which is also the island where the capital is, Port Vila. It is about 1,260 miles from the coast of Australia....
, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
).
Highways:
total:
1,070 km
paved:
256 km
unpaved:
814 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine:
total:
78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,266,634 GRT/
ships by type:
bulk 27, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquified gas 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 9, vehicle carrier 6 (1999 est.)
note:
a flag of convenience
Flag of convenience
The term flag of convenience describes the business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship's owners, and flying that state's civil ensign on the ship. Ships are registered under flags of convenience to reduce operating costs or avoid the...
registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece 3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998 est.)
Airports:
32 (1999 est.) (See Bauerfield International Airport
Bauerfield International Airport
Bauerfield International Airport is an airport located in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The airport is relatively small in size, but its runway has the capability and length to accept jets up to the Boeing 767. It serves as the hub for Vanuatu's flag carrier airline, Air Vanuatu.-Overview:The airport was...
.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
29
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
11
under 914 m:
17 (1999 est.)