We signed two agreements with the Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority at the Maritime Labour Convention Regional Dialogue in Cairns on 23 May 2011.

The first agreement supports teamwork on marine pollution preparedness and response. In the event of a marine pollution incident, each maritime authority can request assistance from the other and take all reasonable efforts to provide vessel and aerial assets, equipment, materials and personnel to respond to a pollution incident. Each authority will consult on a range of matters related to pollution of the marine environment.

The second agreement concerns cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea on improved marine safety. This agreement adds to a broader agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the transport sector which was signed on 5 November 2010. Activities under the annex include a search and rescue needs and gap analysis; joint casualty management and oil spill exercise; ship survey and inspection; navigational needs analyses; and governance and regulatory measures to ensure improved compliance with newly developed legislation and standards.

The agreements were signed by our former Chief Executive Officer,Graham Peachey, and Captain Nurur Rahman, Executive Manager Maritime Operations Branch, PNG National Maritime Safety Authority.

Graham Peachey and Captain Nurur Rahman.

Graham Peachey and Captain Nurur Rahman signing Australia-Papua New Guinea maritime cooperation agreements