PNG Ports welcomes mv Mondi

Normal, Shipping

PNG Ports Corporation Ltd (PNGCPL) has welcomed its newly-acquired pilot boat mv Mondi as it continues with its plans to expand the company’s pilotage services.
The purchase of the boat is part of the PNGPCL board’s directions to obtain additional boats to support current and future operational requirements.
Chief executive officer Brian Riches said the board has provided him with the mandate to expand the existing operations to include harbour management and additional pilotage services.
Mr Riches said PNGPCL was continuing its organisational restructure programme and was in the process of implementing a pilotage strategic plan to identify the direction of pilotage services, gaps, current capacity requirements, obligations, and future direction and revenue opportunities for example with the Australian Reef Pilots (ARP) Ltd.
PNGPCL and ARP have established a partnership to jointly undertake marine piloting transfer (MPT) services using pilot boats for foreign going vessels transiting through the Jomard Entrance in Milne Bay province.
mv Mondi was acquired while on tender from Bundaberg Port Corporation of Australia with technical assistance from ARP.
The 13.76m boat is powered by two Caterpillar 3208TA engines and was formerly known as Des Anthrobus.
Pilotage services are available at most PNGPCL ports on 48-hour notice and the services are compulsory at the ports of Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Rabaul and Kimbe.
The pilotage exemption certificate is issued by the Department of Transport.
However, PNGPCL superintendent of pilotage, under certain conditions, issues pilotage exemption certificates.
PNGPCL also makes it a requirement that all pilots are licensed and has plans to recruit more trainee pilots in the near future.
The boat has been named after Mondi Temu, wife of PNGPCL’s current board chairman, Dr Ila Temu.