National Maritime Safety Authority (PNG) Navigational Aids Packages

Scope of Work

Pacific Marine Group and AMS Group in its capacity as a Joint Venture (AMSPMGJV) were contracted to complete Navaid Packages 1 & 2 for the Maritime and Waterways Safety Project, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project.

The contract involved the design, procurement & installation of 43 new navigational aid piles and upgrade of a further 23 existing navigational aids at 32 grouped locations through Papua New Guinea’s Coastal Island Provinces that included a number of locations around the Bismark Sea such as East & West New Britain Island, New Ireland Island, Bougainville Island, Milne Bay & Coastal Provinces.

Navigational aid construction works were conducted from PMG151 - a 45m x 15m construction barge fitted with an 100T crawler crane and piling equipment. The barge and crew were supported by our tug PMG Emerald – a 42m tug capable of accommodating 20 persons. PMG was supported by our JV partner Australian Maritime Systems, who completed supply and commissioning of platform structures and navigational lights.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the construction team implemented additional safety and isolation measures to ensure works could proceed to early completion well ahead of the contracted completion date.

The logistical challenges of the project have been handled well with vessels and crew moving through a number of key PNG ports including Port Moresby, Alotua & Lae with a significant amount of administration and management work ongoing in the background. Working closely with a compliment of PNG nationals that complete vital subcontractor roles, the JV was able to continue achieving the objectives of the ADB funded project to improve maritime safety as well as undertake HIV/AIDS awareness education in some of the less populated coastal and islander village communities of PNG through our community liaison plan.

Marine Specific Tasks:

Being an extremely remote project, the support tug was utilised as the accommodation for all site-based project personnel. The tug and barge was manoeuvred and managed by the PMG marine crew as well as the small support vessels.

Dive Specific Tasks:

Scientific diving activities were undertaken throughout the works. This was a critical component of the works to create a record of reef conditions at each location before and after works as well as guiding construct ion crew with anchor/spud positioning to have minimal impact on the reef areas.