1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing and using the official website of the National Maritime Safety Authority (https://nmsa.gov.pg), you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms. If you do not agree to these terms, please refrain from using our digital services.
2. User Conduct & Submissions
Comments: When users engage with our content, the NMSA collects data provided in the comments form, alongside the visitor’s IP address and browser string to assist in spam detection.
Media Uploads: Users are advised against uploading images containing embedded location data (EXIF GPS). The NMSA is not liable for third-party extraction of location data from user-uploaded content.
Prohibited Use: You may not use this site for any unlawful purpose or to transmit any material that is defamatory, offensive, or designed to interfere with the site’s functionality.
3. Account Security
If you are provided with credentials to access restricted portals (e.g., vessel registration or administrative tools):
Cookies: Our system uses cookies to retain login information and display preferences.
Login Cookies: Persist for two days (or two weeks if “Remember Me” is selected).
Screen Options: Persist for one year.
Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account. The NMSA tracks IP addresses during password resets for security verification.
Privacy & Data Management
4. Information Collection and Usage
We are committed to protecting the data of our stakeholders and the public.
Embedded Content: Articles on this site may feature embedded content (videos, maps, etc.). This content behaves as if the visitor has visited the source website directly and may collect data or use third-party tracking.
Gravatar Service: An anonymized hash of your email address may be sent to the Gravatar service to verify usage. Their privacy policy is available at automattic.com/privacy/.
5. Data Retention
Public Interaction: Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely to facilitate automated approval of follow-up interactions.
Registered Users: For users registered on the NMSA portal, we store personal profile information. Users maintain the right to view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (with the exception of their username).
6. Your Data Rights
In accordance with data protection best practices, users who hold an account or have left comments may:
Request an Export: Receive a file of the personal data we hold about you.
Request Erasure: Request that we delete personal data.
Note: This does not include data the NMSA is legally or administratively mandated to retain for maritime safety, regulatory compliance, or security purposes.
7. Governance and Jurisdiction
These terms are governed by the laws of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The NMSA reserves the right to update these terms to reflect changes in maritime law or digital policy.