Formation of a New National Maritime Safety Authority for Papua New Guinea

A Canadian Company, CPCS Transcom of Ottawa has been awarded a contract to set up a National Maritime Safety Authority in Papua New Guinea.
This new PNG Authority, which is fashioned after the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, will assume responsibility for navigation standards, ships surveys and inspections, pilotage, hydrography, aids to navigation, and community development . The Governments Maritime
Transportation Department previously assumed responsibility for these functions. The employees within the existing department are being retrenched and offered other opportunities.
Legislation creating this authority was passed in the house of parliament of Papua New Guinea at the end of September 2003. The act gives the newly appointed 9 member board of directors the wide authority to act on behalf of the state in relation to any domestic or
international agreement relating to maritime safety, marine pollution prevention, search and rescue operations at sea as well as other marine related responsibilities such as hydrography.
Included within this special operating agency, which no longer will be supported by government, is a small hydrographic unit that will continue to seek the help and assistance of the Australian navy to provide nautical charting of the PNG coast.