1. Data Collection and Usage

When visitors engage with the site by leaving comments, we collect the information provided in the comments form. To maintain the integrity of our digital platform and prevent spam, we also record the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string.

An anonymized string (hash) created from your email address may be provided to the Gravatar service. Upon approval of your comment, your profile picture becomes visible to the public within the context of your post. You can review the Gravatar privacy policy here.

Media
If you upload images to the NMSA portal, we recommend ensuring that embedded location data (EXIF GPS) is removed. Visitors to the website may be able to download these images and extract location metadata.

2. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide specific functionalities:

User Convenience: If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to saving your name and email. These cookies last for one year.

Session Management: We set a temporary cookie on our login page to check browser compatibility; this is discarded once the browser is closed.

Authentication: Logging in triggers cookies to store your credentials and display preferences. Login cookies last for two days (or two weeks if “Remember Me” is selected), while screen option cookies last for one year.

Content Management: If you have administrative rights to edit or publish articles, a cookie indicating the post ID of your recent activity will be stored for 24 hours.

3. Embedded Content
Articles on this site may feature embedded content (such as videos, maps, or external reports). This content behaves exactly as if the visitor has navigated to the third-party website. These external sites may collect data, use their own cookies, and monitor your interaction—particularly if you are logged into an account with those providers.

4. Data Sharing and Retention
Security Logs: If you initiate a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset communication for security verification.

Spam Detection: Visitor comments are processed through automated spam detection services.

Retention Periods: Comments and associated metadata are retained indefinitely to facilitate automated approval of follow-up contributions. For registered users, we store the personal information provided in their profile.

5. Your Rights Over Your Data
If you hold an account or have left comments on this site, you have the right to:

Request an exported file of the personal data we hold about you.

Request the erasure of your personal data.

Note: This does not include data we are legally or administratively mandated to retain for security, regulatory compliance, or maritime safety records in accordance with Papua New Guinea legislation.

6. Administrative Access
Registered users can view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (with the exception of their username). NMSA website administrators also have access to view and manage this information to ensure the platform remains secure and operational.