REHABILITATION OF THE MARITIME NAVIGATION PROJECT	PAPUA NEW GUINEA

> SECTOR(S) : Marine

> SERVICE(S) : Engineering Consulting, Institutional Reform, Planning, Economics and Modelling, Poverty Alleviation and Social Impacts

As an island nation, the marine sector of Papua New Guinea (PNG) plays a critical role to the country’s economic development. The effective provision of modern marine navigational and safety services is thus important to the proper operation of PNG’s 15 most heavily used ports and waterway routes. With the goal of modernizing and rehabilitating the marine navigation sector of the PNG, this project included seven components: (1) sector reorganization, (2) civil works for the construction of new navigation aids and rehabilitation of existing aids, (3) equipment for navigation aids, (4) the launching of a first-ever community engagement program, (6) establishment of hydrographic services, and (7) training and project management.

In undertaking this project in Papua New Guinea (PNG), CPCS assisted in restoring the existing navigation aids, establishing new aids, opening new channels, establishing a national hydrographic service, and instituting an autonomous maritime safety entity.  CPCS improved maritime safety by developing a rehabilitated, efficient, and safe navigation system and providing timely information on maritime conditions. 

As a result of this project and the signing of 175 community maintenance and security agreements for the engineering sites, residents along the coast of Milne Bay are benefiting from four different packages.  These are:

• Community maintenance and security contracts.
• Maintenance training for men and women in remote coastal villages.
• Land leases for lighthouses, have been signed at 165 sites in 14 maritime provinces.
• Backlog of land compensation, which have been processed and over 200 sites had valuations completed by the Valuer General and the Community Engagement Team.