New Zealand is looking at how it can beef up its support for maritime safety in Kiribati following last month's ferry tragedy.
Kiribati has announced a Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy which is believed to have claimed about 80 lives.
New Zealand's spending close to 22 million US dollars on maritime safety in the Pacific, providing tools, training and advice to seven countries including Kiribati.
Dave Billington of Maritime New Zealand says efforts are underway to improve safety in several ways including supplying personal locator beacons - PLBs - and other electronic lifelines known as EPIRBs.
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A joint-agency programme aimed at improving maritime safety in the Pacific provided a purpose-built response boat for the Kiribati Police Maritime Unit Photo: Maritime New Zealand ©2018