Exciting Opportunities Abound for Papua New Guinean Maritime Graduates
In a wave of inspiration and achievement, recent graduates from Pacific Towing (PacTow) and Consort Express Lines (Consort) are setting sail into promising careers with maritime companies eager to address workforce shortages. The success of the Deck and Engine cadetship programs at PacTow and Consort is exemplified by the swift employment of many new 'Officers of the Watch,' with numerous graduates securing positions within just one month of completing their training.
The Coastal Shipowners Association affirms the pressing need for maritime professionals in Papua New Guinea, emphasizing the scarcity of both junior and senior officers. Neil Papenfus, General Manager of Pacific Towing, underscores the crucial role of cadetship programs in addressing this shortage, stating, "They produce new seafaring professionals not only for the companies that develop and run them but for PNG’s broader maritime sector."
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| Recently graduated Officer of the Watch (Deck) Eunice Tuwe undertook critical sea time training on Consort Express Lines’ vessels and is now employed by them. |
Noteworthy success emerges from PacTow's 'Women in Maritime' program, which has seen its graduates securing positions with multiple maritime organizations, including Consort, Kute Shipping, Lutheran Shipping, P&O, TWL, and YWAM Medical Ships. Eunice Tuwe, an Officer of the Watch – Deck, is a shining example, having fulfilled her dream of working at sea with immediate employment at Consort, PNG's largest coastal shipping company.
Consort's cadetship program, launched in 2020, has also contributed significantly to strengthening PNG's maritime industry. Thirty-one Officers of the Watch have emerged from this initiative, with 12 finding employment within Consort and the rest exploring opportunities with various PNG shippers.
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| Young officers such as Tug Master Emmanuel Simoi who completed his cadetship with Pacific Towing are in high demand across PNG’s maritime sector. |
As demand for maritime professionals rises, Antony Riley, General Manager of Consort Express Lines, acknowledges the compounding effect of the shortage in PNG. Riley explains, "Businesses, particularly those linked to major developments such as the Papua LNG project, need more vessels – especially for project cargo – and these vessels require more seafarers." Home-grown cadets and their training programs have never been more vital in meeting these growing demands.
In a collaborative effort to nurture maritime talent, Consort and PacTow have jointly offered 20 maritime cadetship scholarships for young Papua New Guineans in 2024. Other organizations, including P&O and PNG Ports Corporation, are also actively contributing to the development of maritime professionals through their cadetship programs. Additionally, the newly established joint venture, Gulf Maritime Services (GMS), involving Steamships, GFS, and the Gulf Provincial Government, has announced its commitment to offering cadetships, further amplifying the positive momentum within the maritime sector.
For those aspiring to embark on a maritime career or learn more about available opportunities, Steamships’ Logistics Division, PNG’s largest operator of transport and logistics, invites exploration of its cadetship programs and comprehensive logistics solutions at www.steamshipslogistics.com.pg. The maritime industry in Papua New Guinea is flourishing, and these cadetship programs are steering the course towards a brighter, more prosperous future.
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