Editing Transport in the Cook Islands

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
This article lists '''transport in the [[Cook Islands]]'''.

==Road transport==
[[File:AvaruaRoundabout.jpg|thumb|Avarua Roundabout, one of only two on Rarotonga]]
The Cook Islands uses [[Left- and right-hand traffic|left-handed traffic]].<ref name="gettingaround">{{cite web |url=https://cookislands.travel/how-to-book/getting-around |title=Getting Around |publisher=Cook Islands Tourism Corporation |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> The maximum speed limit is 50&nbsp;km/h.<ref name="gettingaround"/> On the main island of [[Rarotonga]], there are no traffic lights and only two roundabouts.<ref name="gettingaround"/> A bus operates clockwise and anti-clockwise services around the islands coastal ring-road.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cookislands.travel/supplier/cooks-island-bus-passenger-transport-ltd |title=Cooks' Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd |publisher=Cook Islands Tourism Corporation |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

Road safety is poor. In 2011, the Cook Islands had the second-highest per-capita road deaths in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/34214-second-most-deadly-roads/34214-second-most-deadly-roads |title=Second most deadly roads |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=1 September 2011 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> In 2018, crashes neared a record high, with speeding, alcohol and careless behaviour being the main causes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/377714/alarming-crash-figures-in-cook-islands |title='Alarming' crash figures in Cook Islands |publisher=[[RNZ]] |date=7 December 2018 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Motor-scooters are a common form of transport, but there was no requirement for helmets, making them a common cause of death and injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecoconet.tv/cocoblog/cook-islands-road-toll-fatalities-points/ |title=Cook Islands road toll fatalities points to 'gutless' MP's |publisher=The Coconet |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/pacific-islands/114186351/moving-to-the-cook-islands-kiss-the-road-of-rarotonga |title=Moving to the Cook Islands: Kiss the road of Rarotonga |publisher=Stuff |date=13 July 2019 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Legislation requiring helmets was passed in 2007, but scrapped in early 2008 before it came into force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2009/06/01/polynesia-review-issues-and-events-1-july-2007-30-june-2008-cook-islands |title=Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008: Cook Islands |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> In 2016, a law was passed requiring visitors and riders aged 16 to 25 to wear helmets, but it was widely flouted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342196/young-motorcyclists-in-cooks-still-ignoring-helmet-law |title=Young motorcyclists in Cooks still ignoring helmet law |publisher=[[RNZ]] |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> In March 2020 the Cook Islands parliament again legislated for compulsory helmets to be worn from June 26, but implementation was delayed until July 31,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/77459-grace-period-to-get-helmets |title=Grace period to get helmets |author=Katrina Tanirau |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=19 June 2020 |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> and then until September 30.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/77954-two-more-months-of-no-helmets |title=Two more months of no helmets |author=	Rashneel Kumar |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=31 July 2020 |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref>

; Highways:
:* Total: 295 km (2018)<ref name="cia">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cook-islands/ |title=The World Factbook 2020: Cook Islands |publisher=CIA |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
:* Paved: 207 km (2018)
:* Unpaved: 88 km (2018)

==Rail transport==
The Cook Islands has no effective rail transport. Rarotonga had a 170m tourist railway, the [[Rarotonga Steam Railway]], but it is no longer in working condition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/cook02.htm |title=No Steam in the Cook Islands... |website=www.internationalsteam.co.uk |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>

==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

==Air transport==
[[File:Rarotonga Airport from air1.JPG|thumb|Rarotonga Airport from the air]]
{{further|List of airlines of the Cook Islands}}
{{further|List of airports in the Cook Islands}}

The Cook Islands is served by one domestic airline, [[Air Rarotonga]]. A further three foreign airlines provide international service.

===Airports===
There is one international airport, [[Rarotonga International Airport]]. Eight airports provide local or charter services. Only Rarotonga and [[Aitutaki Airport]] are paved.

: 11 (2013)<ref name="cia"/>
; Airports – with paved runways:
:* Total: 1 (2019)
:* 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 
; Airports – with unpaved runways:
:* Total: 10 (2013)
:* 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)
:* 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
:* Under 914 m: 1 (2013)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Transport in the Cook Islands}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070610095329/http://adb.org/Documents/Reports/Consultant/39118-COO/39118-02-COO-TACR.pdf Airports and Ports in the Cook Islands]

{{Oceania in topic|Transport in}}

[[Category:Transport in the Cook Islands| ]]