Poorly-mapped areas of the Pacific Ocean will be in line for improved hydrographic survey thanks to a new programme led by New Zealand.
The New Zealand Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says the risk assessment will highlight areas in the Pacific that are more at risk.
He says now that there's an increase in cruise ships navigating in the badly-chartered waters, the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme is one way New Zealand can help.
Mr Williamson says last year's pilot programme in Vanuatu was very successful and other areas likely to receive attention are the Cook Islands and Tonga.
"Some of their charts are very out of date, quite dangerous, I understand, and of course there's a very big increase in the number of cruise liners and other ships visiting these countries and into their bays and so on, and it would be tragic if there was a dreadful maritime accident because people were relying on out of date or completely incorrect charts."
The New Zealand Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson.
