More than 100 Puma Energy staff and their families took the opportunity to board the YWAM Training and Medical Ship on Saturday.
The visit came just hours before MV YWAM PNG (and her volunteer team from 15 nations) was scheduled to set sail on the first outreach voyage of its Stage 3 deployment to Gulf Province.
Puma Energy has been a major supporter of YWAM Medical Ships since 2015 through the provision of MV YWAM PNG’s total fuel and lubricant requirements. This was for their healthcare and training activities in the Southern region and Huon Gulf.
This contribution is valued in excess of K1m per annum, totaling more than K3m as part of a two-year sponsorship agreement signed last year.
The tours were an opportunity for Puma Energy’s many staff to get a first-hand view of the contribution of their organisation to the YWAM Medical Ships’ program, under their Puma Proud sustainability banner.
Among the Puma Energy staff touring the ship were senior company executives, including PNG country manager Jim Collings.
“This partnership with YWAM continues to be a natural fit for Puma Energy, given its ongoing focus on improving the health and education prospects for women and children in the country," Collings said.
“Our staff and their families can feel immensely proud of the role Puma Energy plays in assisting YWAM to bring vital services, hand in hand with empowering PNG citizens, in remote parts of the nation.”
YWAM Medical Ships managing director, Ken Mulligan, said he was grateful for Puma Energy’s ongoing partnership.
“Our partnership with Puma Energy is a strong one because it is based out of shared values – a strong emphasis on harnessing individual strengths to achieve great things as a team.
“We see this demonstrated at the village level with local communities and health care workers, just as in major corporate relationships such as this one.”
So far this year, more than 30,000 people have benefited from the collaborative work achieved in 171 villages.
From arrival this week, the ship will be serving in PNG waters until Stage 4 of her refit in mid-2017.