Transport in Vanuatu
Vanuatu's undeveloped road system, with fewer than 100 miles of paved roads, consists mostly of dirt tracks suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Every island has one or two short airstrips where Vanair’s Twin Otter planes land two or three times weekly. In addition, every island has a small port or wharf where small cargo ships and boats regularly dock. After arrival on an island, transportation is usually via pickup truck, foot, or small boat. Bicycles are becoming popular in Vanuatu. Port Vila and Luganville have numerous taxis and mass-transit vans. There are  no railways in Vanuatu, although there was a small rail line on Efate during the colonial era. Vanuatu's main harbors are Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo). Modes of transport. Highways: "total:" 1,070 km "paved:" 256 km "unpaved:" 814 km (1996 est.) Merchant marine: "total:" 78 ships (1,000 GT or over) totaling 1,266,634 GT/ "ships by type:" bulk 27, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquified gas 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 9, vehicle carrier 6 (1999 est.) "note:" a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of  Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece 3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998 est.) Airports: 32 (1999 est.) (See Bauerfield International Airport.) Airports - with paved runways: "total:" 3 "2,438 to 3,047 m:" 1 "1,524 to 2,437 m:" 1 "914 to 1,523 m:" 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: "total:" 29 "1,524 to 2,437 m:" 1 "914 to 1,523 m:" 11 "under 914 m:" 17 (1999 est.)