Kiribati's New Fishing Vessel, MARIBO 61, Ready to Harvest Ocean Resources

BETIO, TARAWA – April 9, 2025

Kiribati is now fully equipped to fish and harvest its ocean resources with the arrival of its new fishing vessel, MARIBO 61. A reliable source confirmed to Hope Radio News that the vessel has the capacity to hold up to 1,200 tonnes of fish in its hold.

The vessel, named Maribo – a Kiribati word meaning "hardworking" – was aptly chosen to reflect the vessel's mission: to work diligently in the pursuit of food resources for the nation. MARIBO 61 is also outfitted with state-of-the-art navigation systems, ensuring efficient and effective operations.

The vessel was recently toured by a delegation led by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, Honorable Ribanataake Awira, along with his team. Built in China, MARIBO 61 is owned by the Kiribati government through a joint venture with Chinese fishing companies.

Notably, MARIBO 61 is Kiribati's first fishing vessel equipped with a helicopter, which will be used to scout for abundant fish stocks, guiding the vessel to prime fishing areas. This advanced feature enhances the vessel's ability to efficiently locate and harvest marine resources.