National Maritime Safety Authority

This warning follows the Alotau Committal Court committing the captain (Indonesian) of the MT. Seaborne 1 and the shipping manager (Malaysian) of Seaborne Shipping PNG Limited to stand trial in the National Court.

The Authority co-funded the fisheries college’s commemoration last Saturday, which included an Open Day.

This year marks the 12th Anniversary of the Day of the Seafarer with the theme “Your voyage-then & now. Share your journey”. 

In recent years, the reported number of shipwrecks has increased in Port Moresby and in other maritime provinces.

The reports state that incidences of marine causalities of ships and the owners’ abandoning wrecks has caused barriers to safety of navigation, as well as causing damages to marine environments, and other coastal interests.

Effective implementation of the Act in all 15 Maritime Provinces is one of the key objectives of NMSA’s operations, in particular, the safety program that aims to improve safety while traveling at sea.

Overall, NMSA provides the leadership to ensure that the respective provincial governments implement the Act through the establishment of Provincial Small Craft Registration Boards.

The Provincial Small Crafts Registration Boards are tasked to promote safety by ensuring that owners of all small crafts who ferry passengers are registered, licensed and monitored.

The National Maritime Safety Authority CEO, Paul Unas, said this warning particularly goes to those in the Southern Region as current wind speeds of up to 80km per hour and waves of up to 4 metres are predicted over the next 7 days.

Unas issued the warning after receiving reports of several boating incidents over the weekend.

Unas said small boat owners and passengers must take extra precaution and may need to reconsider planning boat trips during this time.

“Safety is the responsibility of the boat owners, operators and passengers.”

He said operators of banana boats should take precaution and refrain from traveling in the open seas during times of strong winds.  

“My transport message is clear, let’s enjoy the festive season,” Mumu said.

Despite similar appeals being issued year in, year out, reports of missing boats continue in the maritime provinces.

The role of search and rescue under the transport sector falls under the National Maritime Safety Authority.

CEO of the National Maritime Safety Authority, Paul Unas, said one of its function is to coordinate maritime search and rescue.

So far, 10 of 15 maritime provinces have started implementing the act however, are yet to move onto a position of full implementation due to the setbacks.

Currently, the provinces have established small crafts boards with several actively engaged in the registration and enforcement of the Act.

In a statement, National Maritime Safety Authority, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Unas, said the NMSA has been providing training, administrative support, office refurbishment, Information Technologies, safety equipment and community awareness activities, in 14 provinces.

Yokomo win 2016 softball club championships

http://www.looppng.com/content/yokomo-win-2016-softball-club-championships

Yokomo cruised through to a 9-1 win over Defence in the men's grand final this afternoon of the PNG Power National Softball Club Fast Pitch tournament.

Twinning project celebrated with universities

Providing a more effective system for maritime safety, it aims at save lives at sea utilizing terrestrial and satellite technology and a ship board radio system.

This will improve communications between vessels and NMSA’s central search and rescue operations centre located here in Port Moresby.

This will help improve PNG’s compliance with International Maritime Organization standards and its new capabilities will make sure to enhance the safety of seafarers operating throughout PNG waters.

The establishment of Bougainville’s Small Craft Registration Board and the introduction of a new Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which covers all of PNG’s waters, were jointly funded by the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Both governments recognise the critical role Bougainville’s waters play in promoting economic development and connecting communities to essential services.