The economic development of archipelagic territories is intimately linked with shipping. In the archipelagoes of the Pacific small vessels connect many islands with one or two port towns. These towns are entrepôts for cargoes of consumer goods, petroleum and timber, and they are transhipment points for copra and fresh produce coming in from the island hinterlands. Towns, such as Suva, Lautoka, Apia, Nuku'alofa, also serve as local markets and educational, social and medical centres for the people of the outer islands.

In Fiji there are about 90 inhabited islands outside Viti Levu. The villages and estates in the outer islands all focus in some way on the port of Suva. There are many economic and social problems in the islands and these are made more acute by high freight rates and the unreliability of some services. But most of the shipping operators would be hard put to reduce freight rates or to improve the quality of their ships and services. One reason for this is the burden of marine accidents.