NMSA Small Craft Registration – Digitising Maritime Registration Through Mobile Technology

iNet staff registering small crafts at Wewaks Post Office boat stop.

In 2023, iNet Technologies & Communications partnered with the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) to support the Small Craft Registration exercise in Wewak, East Sepik Province. The project aimed to improve maritime safety by formally registering small crafts while equipping vessel owners with essential life-saving equipment.

iNet designed and deployed a custom mobile registration application, enabling real-time data capture directly in the field. Using tablets, iNet’s team worked alongside NMSA officers to register small craft owners and their vessels, collecting accurate personal and vessel information on-site. This digital approach replaced manual paperwork, significantly improving efficiency, data accuracy, and turnaround time.

Throughout the exercise, hundreds of small crafts were registered across Wewak and surrounding communities. In addition to digital registration, iNet supported NMSA in issuing life jackets to small craft owners, reinforcing the importance of safety at sea while ensuring each registered vessel met minimum safety requirements. The use of tablets and mobile technology allowed the team to operate effectively in challenging field environments, including coastal villages and informal docking areas.

The Wewak Small Craft Registration project demonstrated iNet Technologies & Communications’ capacity to deliver practical, technology-driven solutions in remote settings. By combining custom software development with on-ground deployment, iNet helped NMSA strengthen its national small craft database while directly contributing to safer maritime transport for local communities.