Official: Ports play vital role during pandemic

PNG Ports Corporation managing director Fego Kiniafa says the company recognises the important role that ports play during these unprecedented times.
Kiniafa said the company would continue to ensure that the country’s ports were open to facilitate the trade that it needed.
He warned that if the ports were closed, the impact would be worse than what was being experienced under the isolation measures.
He said PNG Ports had implemented contactless operations where crews on vessels were not required to come ashore while port staff did not board the vessels.
“That arrangement has really worked for us and it will continue to be implemented and we will make sure that cargo continues to flow through our country to support the operations of our country,” he said.
Kiniafa also told The National that the company was investing in pilotage services to support its operations in the LNG project.
He said this service was complementary to its main wharf business.
“This is in terms of ensuring that ships are brought in safely and brought out safely,” he said.
“We are also looking at investing in our human resources to develop the next line of training the pilots.
“We are looking at cadets and young graduates that come out (from colleges) so that we can train them for the long term sustainability of that aspect of our business.”