P&O Maritime Logistics, a leading provider of maritime services globally, has delivered the second new vessel- the “Fly Valiant,” designed specifically to service Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) and its operations along the Fly River in the Western province.
The Head of Australia and PNG P&O Maritime Logistics Mr. John Connor said the vessels were designed specifically to meet the requirements of the OTML supply chain. “This ship along with the other ships of the P&O fleet provide good support for OTML and in doing so, support the development and prosperity of PNG and in particular of the Western province,” said Mr. Connor.
He said with no road links to Kiunga, the marine assets engaged by OTML remain vital elements of their supply chain. “Just as with her sister ships, P&O has used its long-term expertise to best service the routes and to help in movement of copper to the global market while also providing logistics support to OTML.”
He said the partnership between P&O and OTML provides them a unique opportunity to offer insight into the development of these vessels so to ensure they are fully equipped to safely navigate through the challenging environment. This is because P&O has been working in the country and on the fly river for 30 years. During that period, the company has developed a wealth of expertise in the local area.
“We are proud to have supported OTML’s operations and the positive impact on the lives and communities that have benefit through the products of the company.” Meanwhile, OTML Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Musje Werror thanked P&O for the new specifically designed vessel and said this will support OTML operations until 2032, or even beyond if possible, depending on the mine’s future operations.
“We still have 200million tonnes of resource that is still going to be in the ground post 2032 and that can take us well into the 2040s, even 2050s,” he said. He added that the mine will not close in the near term as there is still life going into the future, but the challenge is managing the environmental impacts, which is how OTML treats and manages the tailings from the mine.
This will mean P&O Maritime services will still be needed going into the future. The addition of the two new vessels, the Fly Enterprise and Fly Valiant, represented an extension of P&O Maritime Logistics and OTML’s long-term partnership, where the Dubai based maritime services company continues to leverage its expertise to bring value and efficiency to operations, while investing in the success of the Ok Tedi mining operation.