As part of the Department of Port Administration’s Vision 2030 for development of the seaport, a super dock which would provide docking for military vessels is being proposed for Onesosopo.

Port Administration Director Barney Sene said the dock provides support for the US military to deal with geopolitical issues with China.

Tapaau Daniel Aga asked about consultations with families in the area where the Onesosopo super dock and other planned docks would be built.

PLay Audiohttps://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/594/2026/05/01124317/aga-onesosopo.mp3

The super dock at Onesosopo would include an area for storage of nodules to be transported from the Cook Islands for transshipment to Lousiana and Alabama.

Sene said there would be no processing or refinement of nodules at the planned Onesosopo dock.

Play Audiohttps://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/594/2026/05/01124319/no-processing.mp3

Dr. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, founder of Finafinau and a vocal critic of deep sea mining was glad that there wont be any processing and refining locally but said there were still other dangers with the transshipment plan. Here’s part of her exchange with the Port Administration Director.

Play Audiohttps://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/594/2026/05/01124314/sabrina-and-barney.mp3