8 young Papua New Guinea women have graduated as ‘Officers of the Watch’ after they successfully completed the Women in Maritime Program; a partnership between Pacific Towing (PacTow), the Australian Government, Consort Express Lines & Swire Shipping. The women, who are all cadets of PacTow, represent the second and third intakes of the program who are pursuing a seafaring career. The women graduated in a ceremony that took place aboard Steamships’ pleasure cruiser ‘Moresby Chief’ on Fairfax Harbour, where the Australian High Commission’s Minister Counsellor, Penny Morton, Australia Awards PNG Program Director, Rebecca Gitsham, Swire Shipping General Manager – Pacific, Randy Selvaratnam, and Steamships Corporate Affairs General Manager, Vele Rupa, were all in attendance. In his congratulatory speech to the new Officers of the Watch, Mr. Rupa highlighted the significance and values of such Partnerships between Steamships, the Australia Awards PNG programme, and Swire Shipping. “Together we are not only fast tracking the careers of young female seafarers, but we are also strengthening PNG’s maritime sector which plays a crucial role in driving PNG’s development." "Investing in the Women in Maritime programme is an investment Steamships is delighted to have committed to.” The recent graduates include; Naomi Erowa Karen Kariha Carol Wallan Make Wania Melanie Yambun Katrina Komboi Eunice Tuwe Debbie Aina These young women are now qualified to form part of the leadership team of future vessels they work on, as such they will oversee lower ranking deck and engine crew, further professionalizing PNG’s shipping and marine services sector. The General Manager of PacTow, Mr. Neil Papenfus remarked that the Women in Maritime Program was pioneering initiative that is helping to train PNG’s next generation of seafarers. “The new Officers of the Watch will help alleviate the problem of workforce shortages in PNG’s maritime sector, and that their skills and knowledge will benefit PNG for decades to come.” The Women in Maritime Program is offered through a scholarship, where the students undergo both theory and practical training, an onshore component and an year of critical sea time onboard PacTow vessels and sister company Consort Express Lines’ vessels. Swire Shipping provides the cadets with extremely valuable international sea time on much larger, more sophisticated, and technologically advanced vessels, visiting ports in Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand on Swire Shipping vessels. 34 women have been awarded scholarships as either a Deck or Engine Cadet, with 6 more women to commence the program in 2024. PacTow delivers excellent, reliable, and safe marine services through PNG and the broader region. A well-maintained fleet, as well as a dedicated and exceptionally trained team underpin the company’s ongoing expansion and success. PacTow is part of a larger sea and land logistics group wholly owned by Steamships Limited.