A new agency opened in Fiji hopes to cut down the greenhouse gases being pumped out by the thousands of ships criss-crossing the Pacific.
The Pacific Community said old ships are a big contributer to the region's greenhouse gas emissions.
The new agency, called the Maritime Cooperation Centre, hopes to kick off a transition to low-carbon shipping.
The SPC's Thierry Nervale said it will be part of a global network, and will work to create greater awareness and make greener technology available to companies in the region however it has got its work cut out for it.
"The main issue is to access new technologies and to ensure new technologies are available for domestic fleets in the Pacific which is one of the main issues," he said.
"It will be quite expensive, particularly for ship owners because we have very small shipping companies."
Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly