Plan progressing well

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday June 18th, 2013

 PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) is progressing well in its port modernisation programme with the assistance of Singaporean-based company Portek International Pte Ltd.

PNGPCL chief executive officer Stanley Alphonse said in a statement that significant changes had been made since April to revitalise port operations at the Lae and Port Moresby ports.

Alphonse said PNGPCL aimed to have more efficient port operations and increase revenue intake for the economy by having improved vessel turnaround times and to be able to allow and cater for more vessels calls to the respective ports of Lae and Port Moresby.

The main components of the Portek contract are operational training to operations personnel, technical services (engineering) training for the upkeep and maintenance of the mobile harbour cranes (MHCs) and rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), and to assist in the implementation of terminal operating procedures and systems (TOS).

“PNGPCL has engaged Portek to provide operational, yard management information system (YMIS) and crane technical services training with respect to the operations of the RTGs and MHCs and generally assist with operational efficiencies at the terminal facilities at the Lae and Port Moresby ports,” Alphonse said.

PNGPCL chief operating officer Steve Tesar said his team had been working on work-flow procedures and processes whereby the documentation process flow was made more efficient for stakeholders from the time of vessel arrival to the time a port charge invoice is raised.

Tesar said this would benefit the stakeholders and also enable PNGPCL to meet the demand of the unprecedented growth in the economy and increasing trade.

He said the efficiencies being put into place would be fully realised when key staff and relevant stakeholders are aware and understand the basic principles of a terminal operating system.

The status of phase 1 with relation to the streamlining of work-study on work-flow procedures and processes started in April in the areas of port finance, port manifest and invoicing and operations covering planning and berth allocation, quay, yard and receipt and delivery at the gates is projected to be completed by September.