Port plan taking shape

 THE PNG Ports Corp Ltd (PNGPCL) modernisation programme is progressing well with Portek’s help, chief executive officer Stanley Alphonse says.

Portek is a Singaporean-based firm contracted to train operational and technical personnel.

For instance, Portek is training personnel to maintain the mobile harbour cranes and rubber-tyred gantry cranes.

The company is also helping work the terminal operating procedures and systems.

Alphonse said: “Significant changes have been made since last April to revitalise port operations at the Lae and Port Moresby ports.

“PNGPCL will have more efficient port operations and will strive to increase revenue by improving the vessel turnaround times and to cater for more vessels at the ports of Lae and Port Moresby.”

PNGPCL chief operating officer Steve Tesar said his team had been working on the work flow procedures and processes, which speed up vessel documentation from the time they arrived at the port until port charges are collected.

He said this would benefit the stakeholders and also enable PNGPCL to meet the demand of economic growth and increasing trade.

“The efficiencies being put into place will be fully realised when key staff and relevant stakeholders are aware and understand the basic principles of a terminal operating system,”  he added.

The status of phase 1 covering the streamlining of work-study on work-flow procedures and processes began last April in the areas of port finance, port manifest and invoicing and operations.

Also covered by the job were planning and berth allocation, quay yard and receipt delivery at the gates.