No person to enter PNG unless COVID-19 tested

After over 45 years of service in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), Her Majesty’s Papua New Guinea Ship (HMPNGS) Salamaua, has finally retired from active duty.

For the men and women who serve on board her, it was truly a sad moment to say their final goodbyes to the vessel which all the sailors called, ‘The old Lady’.

Indeed she was old, having served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for a while before starting her long service in the PNGDF maritime element as stated by the Commander of Defence Force (CDF), Major General Gilbert Toropo, when reading the vessel’s colourful history during the decommissioning ceremony on Friday.

“Her Majesty’s PNG Ship Salamaua was the foundation of Papua New Guinea’s statehood, it was also the foundation of Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Australian Defence Force relations,” said Commander Toropo.

Commander Toropo said the landing- craft, which was named after a battle in September 1943 involving Australian troops that resulted in the capture of a major Japanese base in Salamaua in the Huon Gulf in Morobe province, served in the PNG Defence Force since 1974.

“The landing- craft was the work horse, always available to provide service in times of natural disasters and emergencies and nation building operations to provide service to the country and its people with pride and dignity.”

“It was launched on 27th July 1972 and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in October 1973. She was decommissioned on 14th November 1974 from the Royal Australian Navy and was gifted to the PNG Defence Force,” said the Commander.

After it’s decommissioning, the vessel maintained her name but changed her royal identity from HMAS (Her Majesty’s Australia Ship) to HMPNGS. The vessel was later commissioned into the PNGDF on 29th December 1974. After a long and colourful service in the PNGDF maritime element in both military and civil, she was finally decommissioned at 4pm on 19th June 2020 at the Basilisk Naval Base, Port Moresby.

Meanwhile, PNGDF Chief of Force Preparation, Colonel Opa Lari, said the vessel will be cut for scrap metal.

“That will cost money but with the assistance of our partners, that part of the process has been taken care of,” said the Colonel.

“Straight after this the ship will be sailed to the doc yard of Motukea and it will be cut up to pieces and sold for scrap metal.”

Nevertheless, there will be newer and modern vessels coming in to re-fleet the aging vessels still in service. CDF Toropo also said three Guardian Class patrol boats will be heading over from Australia under the Maritime Security Program to join the first one, which is the HMPNGS Ted Diro that is currently in service. The first two will arrive next year while the third one in 2022.

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