Editing Transport in the Cook Islands (section)

==Water transport==
[[File:Avatiu Harbour, Rarotonga (482134) (9449672405).jpg|thumb|Avatiu Harbour, Rarotonga]]

The Cook Islands have a long history of sea transport. The islands were colonised from [[Tahiti]], and in turn colonised [[New Zealand]] in ocean-going [[Waka (canoe)|waka]]. In the late nineteenth century, following European contact, the islands had a significant fleet of [[schooner]]s, which they used to travel between islands and to trade with Tahiti and New Zealand.<ref name="lostcentury">{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/49297-the-cook-islands-lost-century-of-independent-sail/49297-the-cook-islands-lost-century-of-independent-sail |title=The lost century of independent sailing |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=22 November 2014 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> In 1899, locally owned shipping carried 10% of all international trade to the islands, and 66% of all trade carried by sail.<ref name="lostcentury"/> Indigenous-owned shipping was driven out of business following New Zealand's acquisition of the islands, replaced by government-owned vessels, New Zealand trading companies, and the steamships of the [[Union Company|Union Steamship Company]].<ref name="lostcentury"/>

International shipping is provided by [[Pacific Forum Line]] and [[Matson, Inc.]] (as EXCIL shipping). Only the port of [[Avatiu]] can handle containers, with ships unloading at [[Aitutaki]] using [[Lighter (barge)|lighters]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ports.co.ck/amenities.html |title=Ports information |publisher=Cook Islands Port Authority |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

There are two inter-island shipping companies: [[Taio Shipping]], operating two vessels, and [[Cook Islands Towage]], operating one.

In the past, shipping interruptions have led to shortages of imported goods and fuel, and electricity blackouts on the outer islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2006/06/09/%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%98survivor%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99-gets-supplies-cooks%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99-mangaia-doesn%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99t-junne-9-2006 |title=‘SURVIVOR’ GETS SUPPLIES, COOKS’ MANGAIA DOESN’T |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=9 June 2006 |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> Shipping has frequently been subsidised to ensure service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfem.gov.ck/news1/121-finacial-secretary-office-news/949-shipping-subsidy-2019 |title=Shipping Subsidy 2019 |publisher=Ministry of Finance & Economic Management |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> In 2019 the Cook Islands government announced that it would acquire a dedicated cargo ship for the outer islands after Cook Islands Towage's barge was sold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/item/72967-2-5m-barge-for-outer-islands |title=$2.5m barge for outer islands |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> It subsequently delayed the purchase pending the development of a Cook Islands Shipping Roadmap, and issued a tender for a Pa Enua Shipping Charter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/outer-islands/item/75580-govt-sails-to-the-rescue |title=Govt sails to the rescue |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=16 January 2020 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

The Cook Islands operates an open ship registry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maritimecookislands.com/our-services/registration-services/ |title=REGISTRATION SERVICES |publisher=Maritime Cook Islands |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> and has been placed on the [[Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control]] Black List as a [[flag of convenience]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parismou.org/detentions-banning/white-grey-and-black-list |title=White, Grey and Black List |publisher=Paris MoU on Port State Control |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Ships registered in the Cook Islands have been used to smuggle oil from [[Iran]] in defiance of international sanctions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/77381-cooks-flagged-ships-accused-of-defying-iran-trade-embargo |title=Cooks-flagged ships accused of defying Iran trade embargo |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=14 June 2020 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> In February 2021 two ships were removed from the shipping register for concealing their movements by turning their [[Automatic identification system]] off.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/economy/vessels-to-have-cooks-flag-removed/ |title=Vessels to have Cooks flag removed |author=Emmanuel Samoglou |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=23 February 2021 |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref> In April 2022 the motoryacht ''Tango'' owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch [[Viktor Vekselberg]] was seized in Spain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300558789/us-seizes-superyacht-owned-by-oligarch-viktor-vekselberg-who-has-close-ties-to-putin |title=US seizes superyacht owned by oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who has close ties to Putin |publisher=Stuff |date=5 April 2022 |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref> Maritime Cook Islands claimed that no other sanctioned vessels were on its registry.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/superyacht-seizure-cook-islands-scramble-to-ban-any-more-russian-oligarchs-from-maritime-registry/I2KRSE77LYIYI3TLBW6SDO5WKQ/ |title=Superyacht seizure: Cook Islands scramble to ban any more Russian oligarchs from maritime registry |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=8 April 2022 |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref> In July 2022 two yachts owned by sanctioned oligarch [[Roman Abramovich]] were reflagged as Cook Islands vessels, allowing them to escape arrest in Antigua and Barbuda.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tumblerridgenews.com/two-superyachts-owned-by-oligarch-roman-abramovich-have-taken-refuge-in-morocco/ |title=Two superyachts owned by oligarch Roman Abramovich have taken refuge in Morocco |publisher=Tumbler Ridge News |date=25 July 2022 |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>

In 2024 Maritime Cook Islands deflagged 12 tankers for violating sanctions against Russia and Iran. It denied that it had become a haven for Russia's "dark fleet" of sanctions-evaders.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lloydslist.com/LL1150048/Cook-Islands-deflags-12-sanctions-busting-tankers-as-it-rejects-dark-fleet-label-for-registrys-ships |title=Cook Islands deflags 12 sanctions-busting tankers as it rejects ‘dark fleet’ label for registry’s ships |publisher=Lloyd's List |author=Michelle Wiese Bockmann |date=29 July 2024 |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>

===Ports and harbours===
* Container ports: [[Avatiu]]
* Other ports: [[Avarua]] ([[Rarotonga]]), [[Arutanga]] ([[Aitutaki]])

The smaller islands have passages through their reefs, but these are unsuitable for large vessels.

===Merchant marine===
:* total: 205<ref name="cia"/>
:* by type: bulk carrier 21, container ship 3, general cargo 85, oil tanker 33, other 63 (2019)
:* country comparison to the world: 65