Integrated and innovative maritime technologies for mobility and fisheries

The Marshall Islands are a small low-lying atoll nation in the Pacific Ocean. Its very existence depends on ambitious global emission reduction to limit sea level rise. Despite this, it heavily relies on costly imported fossil fuels for its vital sea transport and fishing sector. The country works towards developing a zero-emission fleet as part of ongoing initiatives, but a successful paradigm shift throughout society is still pending. The project merges emission-free boat design and construction, indigenous knowledge and modern maritime training for small-scale transport and fisheries. This breaks social and gender barriers, combining efforts in society and the private sector. Integrating innovative technologies into formal education fosters societal sustainability and resilience. The project sends out a strong signal for the decarbonisation and autonomy of domestic sea transport, applicable to many Pacific Island States.

Project data

Countries
Marshall Islands
IKI funding
798,019.34 €
Duration
02/2025 till 12/2027
Status
open
Implementing organisation
Emden University - Leer
Implementing Partner
  • College of the Marshall Islands (CMI)
  • Waan Aelõñ in Majel (WAM)
Online
Skip to Project data

State of implementation/results

  • By September 2026, as many as nine new WAM Catamarans have been built (WAM - Waan Aelõñ in Majel is one of two local implementation partners). Four catamarans were delivered to the atolls Ebon, Mili and Wotho. The local communities have been trained by WAM, and the catamarans are in use. For Arno and Aelõñlaplap atolls, the WAM Catamarans are awaiting delivery.
  • The development of a dedicated sailing course for both the WAM Catamaran and the traditional Marshallese outrigger canoe has been initiated. This will be the first structured sailing curriculum of its kind in the RMI.
  • At the end of 2025, the project coordinator of the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer visited the RMI and in collaboration with WAM optimized the design of the emission-free sailing catamarans WAM Catamaran and the WAM Proa. A newly multi-chine construction method was introduced and constructed. One new design canoe was built – named Miss Mia, which was blessed by Miss Mia of Namdrik Atoll.
  • In June 2025, the director of Waan Aelõñ in Majel (WAM), canoes of the Marshall Islands, joined for workshops in Germany and visited the department of maritime sciences of Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences in Leer.
  • Two pre-colonial Marshallese sailing craft survived in museum collections in Germany (Humboldt Forum in Berlin and Erfurt), which are the only known traditional examples preserved worldwide. In 2025, a collaboration with the two museums was initialized to enable access for study, documentation, and conservation. This collaboration is currently developed into a partnership. It is the first time such craft are analysed with state-of-the-art naval architecture methods to rediscover and refine canoe design.

Latest Update:
11/2026

Project relations

Legend:

  • Current Project
  • Previous project
  • Follow-up project
  • Topic
  • Country selection

The link has been copied to the clipboard