K1bil aid for upgrading ports

By GYNNIE KERO
PNG Ports Ltd managing director Fego Kiniafa says all 15 ports in the country will be upgraded and fitted with security features.
He said this would be made possible with a K1.1 billion funding from the Australian government and spread across the ports for “upgrading work”.
Kiniafa said work on each port would cost millions.
Kiniafa told The National yesterday: “We will have a new port developed in Vanimo.
“For Wewak, our 30-year master plan identified work which needs to be done.”
The Lae Tidal Basin in Morobe would also be expanded given the volume of cargo being handled at this international port, he said.
Yesterday, the Australian government announced a grant of K26 million (A$10 million) to equip the ports with security systems.
Speaking at the launching of the security project grant in Port Moresby yesterday, State Enterprise Minister William Duma said the “country needs to be equipped as demand for sea trade increases and global market demands pick up”.
Duma said the project would help improve the country’s security at the borders and “have at least some surveillance system in place at our maritime gateways”.
“The security project grant of K26 million will fund the outstanding security upgrade and enhance all PNG Ports security operations across the 15 maritime port facilities,” he said.
Duma said work would include the supply and construction of 14km of galvanised palisade perimeter security fencing.
“The 15 ports would also benefit from the installation of 450 solar-powered security lights,” he said.
“At the two international ports – Lae and Motukea (Port Moresby) – four long-range vessel tracking cameras and a bank of 50 closed circuit television) security cameras would be installed.”
PNG Ports Corporation board chairman Kepas Wali thanked the Australian government for having the confidence and trust in PNG Ports to award the grant.
Wali said: “PNG relies on maritime trade for everything and given our strategic location in the Pacific Region, including Australia and New Zealand, security is paramount. With this funding from the Australian government, the ports master plan and this security and safety upgrades will bring transformational change.
“PNG Ports are being modernised and our aim is to deliver safer and secure facilities that meet global standards which will place PNG as a maritime leader and a regional shipping hub for the Pacific.”