PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) is assisting the APEC 2018 Authority to upgrade the old main wharf at the Central Business District (CBD) of Port Moresby at the sum of K16 million for one of the three accommodation cruise ships.

On behalf of the APEC 2018 Authority, PNGPCL selected and signed a contract on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 with Curtain Brothers (CB) Group of Companies to upgrade the old main wharf for APEC 2018.

The APEC 2018 Authority requires adequate berthing facilities for the three large cruise ships coming to Port Moresby to provide accommodation for the delegates attending the APEC Leaders meeting in November this year as there are not enough hotel rooms in Port Moresby for the large number of delegates.

This approach has been successfully exercised for numerous meetings around the world and is common place these days to sufficiently increase accommodation capacity.

The APEC 2018 Authority sought help from PNGPCL in June 2017 to manage this project and PNGPCL has kindly agreed to supervise and organise the necessary construction works, in order to complete the wharf upgrades timely and successfully.

“PNGPCL is happy to assist the APEC 2018 Authority in its preparations to facilitate the three cruise ships. One cruise ship will be berthed at the new Motukea port while the other two will be berthed at the former Port Moresby Port’s container terminal wharf and old main wharf,” PNGPCL’s Managing Director, Mr. Stanley Alphonse said.

He said the two existing wharf facilities at the former Port Moresby port in the CBD (Downtown) require significant work to accommodate the large sized cruise ships, especially the bollard and fender systems need upgrading to safely berth large ships alongside.

Also taking into account possible large wind loading forces and the hefty dynamic momentum of the 265 metres long cruise ship itself during berthing and whilst being moored alongside.

Whilst the majority of the cost has been met by the Office of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council, PNGPCL has also contributed time, resources and approximately 10 percent of the overall cost as part of its community service obligation (CSO) program.

Payment has been done to the contractor and preparations for the construction works are currently going full speed ahead with the piling works to start soon and the date of completion set for August 2018.