PRESS RELEASE 3 AUGUST 2017

MCI COMMITS SUPPORT TO THE COOK ISLANDS’ MARAE MOANA ACT; CONSERVING MARINE LIFE IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST MULTI-USE MARINE PARK

From left: Marae Moana Project Manager Jacqui Evans, Prime Minister Henry Puna, Kaumaiti Nui President of the House of Ariki, Tou Travel and Marae Moana Ambassador Kevin Iro

Maritime Cook Islands (“MCI”), commits its support to the Marae Moana Act, which has been passed by the Cook Islands Parliament and sees the establishment in the Cook Islands of the world’s largest multi-use marine park.

The Parliament of the Cook Islands has formally established Marae Moana advocating protection and conservation of the marine environment, and ocean surrounding the Cook Islands.

Spanning a total ocean area of nearly two million square kilometres, the marine park is established over the entire Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone, with marine protected areas around every island where no longline, purse seine fishing, or seabed minerals activities are permitted, as a precautionary measure to protect biodiversity including whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and seabirds. Exclusion zones, extending 50 nautical miles from every island are specially reserved for the enjoyment of the local people of each island.

The passing of the ocean-saving legislation resonates with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Goal 14: Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources, which is also part of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goals for the shipping industry.

The idea of a marine park was first conceived and presented to the Cook Islands cabinet by Kevin Iro, a board member of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, who has recently been appointed as an ambassador of Marae Moana.

Commenting on the establishment of Marae Moana, MCI CEO Glenn Armstrong said today: “For Cook Islands, a country with land area of only 237 square kilometres, this is a remarkably significant commitment to integrate ocean conservation management – especially knowing that the Act entered into force with bipartisan approval.”

“Moving forward, MCI will work closely with the Marae Moana coordinators towards ensuring vessels entering within and beyond the marine park’s boundaries comply and respect the sanctity of the Marae Moana Act,” Glenn added.

The Marae Moana Act was passed on Tuesday, 11 July 2017. For more information about the Act, please click on this www.maraemoana.gov.ck

About MCI

Maritime Cook Islands is building a world class Open Register for Ships and Yachts from Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and its goal is to become the flag of choice for Quality Classed Tonnage and Super Yachts.

Maritime Cook Islands offers responsible ship owners exceptional service. 

  1. We aim to keep ships in compliance and to keep them moving. Through our MARCI online Register, we will always know when a vessel is due for a survey or a certificate is about to expire. We will ensure that ships are maintained in compliance avoiding Port State Control problems.
  2. Through our network of Deputy Registrars, ship owners will be able to conduct business in their own time zone in their own language and get things done quickly and efficiently.
  3. Cook Islands does not impose additional requirements on ship owners beyond the requirements of IMO Conventions read together with the IACS Unified Interpretations.
  4. Through Cook Islands appointed IACS Class Societies and other Recognized Organizations and our network of Flag State Surveyors around the world ship owners should be able to obtain service in virtually any port.

For more information on the Maritime Cook Islands, please visit: https://www.maritimecookislands.com/

For yacht-related matters, please visit: http://ciyachtregistry.com

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Media consultants to MCI

Helix PR

Edward Ion – edward.ion@helixpr.asia at +65 9111 6871

Fazirah Sa’im – fazirah.saim@helixpr.asia at +65 9009 2760