ABL New Zealand delivers Pacific-focused maritime security capability programme in Fiji
ABL New Zealand has designed and delivered a five-day maritime security capability development programme in Suva, Fiji, bringing together representatives from across the Pacific to strengthen practical capability, collaboration and locally led approaches to maritime security.
Delivered in June 2026, the programme combined classroom learning, practical exercises, tabletop scenarios, collaborative problem solving and a site visit to Fiji Ports at the Port of Suva. It was designed specifically around Pacific operating environments, rather than as a generic training package.
A Pacific-focused approach
The programme was led by ABL New Zealand, with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Transport to enable Pacific partners to attend. Participants represented Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands, including representatives from designated authorities and port authorities responsible for maritime security governance and implementation.
Throughout the week, participants shared experience from their own jurisdictions and worked through realistic regional security scenarios. The visit to the Port of Suva helped connect classroom learning with practical security measures in a live port environment.
“You really delivered this training with great enthusiasm and with great professionalism. This training had given me lots of knowledge and ways of tackling various issues related to the ISPS Code. It was my most enjoyable ISPS training so far which really made us think before we act.” – Course Participant
Building regional resilience
On completion, the group had already formed a professional network to support peer reviews, regular catch-ups and early implementation of measures discussed during the programme.
The programme highlighted the value of collaborative, Pacific-focused capability development and the role the private sector can play in supporting government partners through flexible, independent and technically specialised delivery.
Reflecting on the programme, Tash Hallett, ABL New Zealand Country Lead & Senior Maritime Security Consultant said:
“This programme wasn’t about teaching the Pacific how to do maritime security; it was about creating the environment where Pacific partners could share experiences, challenge ideas and develop solutions that work within their own operational and cultural contexts. The level of engagement and the demand for further collaboration demonstrated the real value of this approach.”
The Fiji delivery has created a foundation for a scalable regional model, supporting practical outcomes shaped by local realities and focused on strengthening maritime security resilience across the Pacific.
