LocationsStory written by Mathilde Casper, Gender Specialist at UNDP Samoa
Sailing Towards Sustainability: Electric Boats and Inclusive Training for Manono’s Navigators
December 10, 2025
Samoan boat handler on the way to Manono in an electric boat.
Photo: Mathilde Casper
“Boats are a symbol for Manono. We have community, family, church - but our island needs boats to survive,” says Filivai, Captain of the Lady Tava’esina.
On Manono Island - one of Samoa’s four inhabited islands and home to over 800 people - boats remain the primary link between its four villages and the mainland. They are lifelines for livelihoods, food supplies, education, and healthcare. Now, each of Manono’s four villages is receiving a new electric boat to replace the aging petrol-fueled fleet, and four solar-powered charging stations have been installed on the island.
This initiative is part of the Pacific Green Transformation Project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP. The project supports Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu on their decarbonization journeys. In Samoa, through the Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport project, the focus lies on the transport sector - the country’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside land transport, the project prioritizes maritime transport, a critical sector for small island communities. By introducing electric boats, the project aims to reduce dependency on costly fossil-fuel imports while mitigating air and marine pollution and improving public health.
Staying connected while protecting waters
Manono depends heavily on maritime transport to stay connected with the main island Upolu. Boats travel to Upolu around three times a day, carrying goods for village shops, fishers heading out to sea, workers commuting, and families visiting relatives. They are also the only means of transport during emergencies, including getting patients to the central hospital in Apia.
For schoolchildren, the commute is an adventure in itself: every morning, they board a boat at 6 am to reach their school on Upolu.
Schoolchildren on their school commute from Manono
Photo: Vladimir Kalinski
The new electric boats offer a range of benefits. They are silent, sturdier, easier to operate and maintain, provide more space for cargo, and most importantly, produce zero greenhouse gas emissions. This helps protect local marine ecosystems already under pressure from coral bleaching and climate change. Traditional petrol boats can leak oil and fuel into the water, harming marine life and degrading water quality, while noise pollution can disturb sensitive species.
Electric boats also reduce operational costs and improve reliability. One trainee recalled a week when schoolchildren were stranded on Upolu due to a petrol shortage: “The boat couldn’t take them back. Electric boats will prevent situations like that.”
Building local skills
The boats were manufactured in Samoa, with New Zealand boatbuilders sharing technical knowledge with local workers. This was complemented by hands-on training for future operators. Trainees received three days of theory training in Apia, followed by practical sessions on the water.
For all of them, it was their first time operating an electric boat. Instructors introduced emergency tools, demonstrated navigation systems, and walked participants through battery charging and safe operation.
“I joined the training because I wanted new knowledge and skills - I need boat coordination for my job,” said Sina, one of the few women participants. “Battery filling and driving the boat were the best parts of the week. I want to be a sailor now.”
Captain Filivai emphasized the importance of maintenance: “We need to care for the boat like a car, and make sure it lasts a long time.” Building local expertise will be essential to ensuring long-term upkeep.
Gender dynamics in maritime work
Boat handling in Samoa has traditionally been a male-dominated space, and all current boat operators on Manono are men. However, a few women joined the recent training sessions - an encouraging step forward.
For some, the link to their work made participation natural. Sina, who works at the Manono Sunset Fales, the island’s only tourist accommodation, said: “It’s seen as a man’s job, but with the right training, anyone can do it.”
Elenise, another trainee, a sei flower tucked behind her ear, relies on boat transport for her livelihood. Twice a week, she travels to the Apia fish market to sell fish and support her family, for whom she is the only caretaker. Another participant shared that she would feel more confident helping manage the charging of the electric boats.
Trainee from Manono learning how to drive an electric boat.
Photo: Vladimir Kalinski
When asked why more women do not join boat crews, several reasons emerged. Some said that “girls don’t feel welcome on the boats,” citing the all-male environment. Others pointed to family concerns on safety and strong social norms about gender roles. A widespread belief persists that men inherently know more about the ocean.
Participants suggested mentorship from women already working in the blue economy, women-only training sessions to create a more comfortable learning environment and expanded training opportunities. Another reason was pointed out: a lot of women don’t know how to swim, which also limits their confidence and willingness to pursue maritime roles.
There are, however, promising signs of progress. On the southeastern coast of Upolu, the village of Mutiatele operates vessels to ferry visitors to a nearby uninhabited island as part of a community tourism enterprise. Today, the eldest daughter in the family-run business steers the vessel, a small but clear sign of how opportunities are evolving.
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