NMSA signs MOU with YWAM - Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority

The National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Medical Ships – Australia and Papua New Guinea recently, to jointly affirm their commitment to collaborate and cooperate in utilizing resources towards addressing the Government of Papua New Guinea’s agenda through PNG Vision 2050 of building healthy, resilient and equitable citizens in Papua New Guinea’s remote coastal and waterway communities.

NMSA’s CEO, Mr. Paul Unas and YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director, Mr. Ken Mulligan OBE OAM, officiated at the signing of this MOU.

Mr. Unas acknowledged the dedication of YWAM Medical Ships and its volunteers in providing medical and dental assistance to remote maritime communities, and also in, providing young Papua New Guinean medical practitioners and professionals an avenue to learn, exchange and impart knowledge with other volunteers from across the world whilst serving in our communities in Papua New Guinea.

The NMSA’s community service obligations through its Community Engagement Program (CEP) and Small Craft Safety Awareness Programs complement its mandatory functions in relation to maritime safety (safety of navigation) and search and rescue coordination, and views this partnership as strategic for maritime safety and marine environment protection in remote and rural coastal communities.

Due to constraints of resources faced by the rural coastal communities, it is significant as well as beneficial for NMSA to support these communities to access basic and reliable medical services from YWAN vessels without having to compromise their own safety to travel long hours at sea in search of these vital services on mainland located throughout the 15 maritime provinces.

This MOU, largely focused on delivery of services and awareness programs, will also include opportunities to develop capacity on collection of hydrographic survey data for unsurveyed waters and others.