Papua New Guinea Maritime College in Madang will have a new Simulator Laboratory, Administration office, and a staff house costing the National Government K15million.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Malakai Tabar officially launched the construction of the projects in the presence of Higher Education Minister Francis Marus on Friday in Madang, Maritime College campus.
Tabar said Maritime College has been neglected for decade by the previous government and O’Neill- Dion government has recognized the importance of the institution and came on board through the department of Transport and Infrastructure and Department of Higher Education in partnership with Maritime College to support financially with funding for infrastructure projects.
He expressed that his Department values the importance of Maritime college contribution to the economy, the high demand of seafarers in the field so came onboard to support with the aim to see the students get better skilled to be competitive in the workforce.
Tabar further explained that the expression of interest for the construction of the new simulator laboratory building, acquisition of two full mission bridge, and one tug bridge simulator have been deposited with Central Supply Tenders Board (CSTB) and will be out in the Newspapers next week.
He said when this project is completed it will re-equipped the Maritime College and contribute significantly to the development of higher education in the country and at the same time address the need for quality seafaring in the rapidly growing maritime sector in the country and further attract students from other countries in the region to undergo quality training that will bring in much needed revenue for the college to be self-sustaining.