Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship launched

Australian High Commission

May 29, 2018

A private sector partnership between the Australian Government, Pacific Towing PNG, Steamships Trading Company Ltd, and China Navigation Company has resulted in 10 women being selected to undertake a three-year maritime cadetship program meunder the Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship. 

 Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davies  (second from right, back row) Australian High Commission second secretary - tertiary education  Fuchsia Hepworth (far left second row) Steamships managing-director Peter Langslow (back row) and Pacific Towing general-manager Neil Papenfus with maritime female awardees and  representatives from the shipping companies.

The Australia Awards Maritime Scholarship, launched on Monday, May 28 in Madang will see these 10 women undergo extensive training in either Officer of the Watch Deck or Officer of the Engine Room positions.

Their training will involve a combination of study at the PNG Maritime College and 18 months working at sea on an international cargo ship belonging to China Navigation. 

Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis who officiated the launch congratulated the awardees and encouraged them to see their role as a contribution to positive growth both in the industry and Papua New Guinea.

“You are set to promote the great value that women mariners can contribute to the global maritime industry, and to Papua New Guinea’s own seafaring sector," he said.

"With your training, you can achieve great things, not just for yourselves but also for Papua New Guinea.” 

Davis also stressed the value of bringing more women into the maritime industry which has traditionally employed men.

“Including women in a workforce brings so much to an industry: new perspectives, improved productivity and enhanced workforce culture," he said.

"The maritime sector can begin to realise this value thanks to the contributions our partners are making through this partnership.”

Pacific Towing PNG general-manager Neil Papenfus said his company was happy to support an initiative that will help enhance Papua New Guinea’s maritime workforce. 

“As the social and cultural obstacles to women seafarers fall away and the industry looks to recruit more from this valuable group, I am glad to see the educational barriers are also being broken down so the demand for skilled female mariners can be met," he said.

The maritime scholarships are a new addition to the Australia Awards in-PNG program. 

The launch included the signing of the Steamships-Australia Awards partnership agreement between the Australian Government and Steamships Trading Ltd to work together to improve the availability of qualified PNG mariners in the country.

The Australian Government is delighted to bring Steamships into the Australia Awards program as a new private sector partner, especially in the 100th year of operations.