TEN young women from Papua New Guinea have graduated as officers of the watch, as part of Pacific Towing’s Women in Maritime program.

The women, who were all cadets at PacTow, represented the first intake of scholarship awardees in the trailblazing program, which is a partnership between PacTow, the Australian government, Swire Shipping, and Consort Express Lines.

The Women in Maritime program, which commenced in 2018, has to date awarded scholarships to 26 women as either a deck or engine cadet. A further four women will commence the program in 2022.

The 10 newly graduated officers of the watch are Eddesha Aigil; Glenda Amu; Jamie-Lee Baim; Kimberly Kipla; Lylella Kunai; Venessah Philipai; Mary Roroipe; Irima Rua; Salomie Tomwarie Wole; and Amy-Lee Turia.

They are now qualified to take on full watch keeping duties in their capacity as either a Mate 3 or Engineer 3. As such, they are poised to make vital contributions to growing and further professionalising PNG’s shipping and marine services sector.

PacTow general manager Neil Papenfus describes the Women in Maritime program as “a trailblazing initiative that is helping train PNG’s next generation of seafaring professionals”.

“The skills and knowledge gained by the 10 new officers of the watch will benefit PNG for decades to come,” he said.

Scholarship holders in the Women in Maritime program receive both classroom and practical training. The practical training comprises an onshore component, as well as vital sea time.

The women’s PNG sea time is on PacTow vessels as well as on sister company Consort Express Lines’ vessels.

In addition, Swire Shipping provides the cadets with international sea time. During their cadetships, the recent graduates visited ports in Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Thailand on Swire Shipping vessels.

The international sea time exposed the cadets to much bigger, more sophisticated, and diverse vessels, than those that typically enter PNG waters.

The graduation ceremony took place recently on Steamships’ pleasure cruiser Moresby Chief during an evening cruise on Fairfax Harbour.

Although the officers will be able to accept employment elsewhere, Steamships’ businesses such as PacTow will be making several offers. It is almost certain that some of the female officers employed, will help PacTow achieve its goal of having an all-female operated tugboat operating from its Port Moresby headquarters in 2023.