MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS – January 8, 2026 – H.E. President Hilda C. Heine attended the handover ceremony for the transport vessels MS Bikar and MS Bokak at the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) Headquarters in Delap.
The ceremony marked the official transfer of the two vessels from the Government of Japan to the Republic of the Marshall Islands under Japan’s Grant Aid Program for Economic and Social Development. The event included the blessing of the vessels and remarks highlighting the strong and longstanding partnership between Japan and the Marshall Islands.
President Heine joined representatives of the Government of Japan, Cabinet Ministers, and MIMRA leadership in witnessing the handover, which will enhance maritime connectivity, support fisheries development, and improve services to outer island communities.
The addition of MS Bikar and MS Bokak reflects continued cooperation between Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and a shared commitment to sustainable development, food security, and resilient island communities.
