Page 39 - IB October 2024

‘Pacific Towing Expands Cadetship Program

at Fiji National Uni’

Melanesian marine services business Pacific Towing (‘PacTow’) has been sending its cadets from PNG to study at Fiji National
University’s ‘Pacific Centre for Maritime Studies’ (PCMS) for nearly a decade. In 2025 four cadets from its Solomon Islands operation
will also commence their first year of studies there. All going well with PacTow’s plans for further expansion in Fiji, it will soon provide
young Fijians with similar fully funded cadetship scholarships, enabling them to pursue maritime careers.

PacTow has been training PNG seafarers for several
decades since it commenced operations nearly 50 years
ago. It does this via two cadetship programmes, one of
which, the Women in Maritime (WIM) programme is
a partnership with the Australian Government, Swire
Shipping and sister coastal shipping business Consort
Express Lines.
Its other, and internally funded, cadetship programme
has traditionally trained men. However, the last seven
years have also seen several female graduates. Cadets
receive theoretical (classroom) training and practical (at
sea) training over a four-year period. Practical training
takes place on PacTow tugs in Melanesia, cargo vessels in
PNG, as well as on much larger and more technologically
advanced vessels servicing major international shipping
routes.
Manager and maritime veteran, Gerard Kasnari, says
that “PacTow is keen to expand its cadetship programme
throughout Melanesia, including Fiji, as a means to grow
as well as secure a workforce for its expanding operations.”
“There is a very serious shortage of seafarers, especially
higher ranking officers, throughout the world” reports
Kasnari. “This is why our cadetships, which include the
high quality theoretical component provided by the Pacific
Centre for Maritime Studies, are so important. Together we
are helping grow Melanesia’s next generation of seafaring
professionals. The young men and women who graduate
will keep our maritime sector strong and reduce our
reliance on expatriates. Furthermore, they will help ensure
the continued provision of essential shipping services.”
PacTow has long held ambitions to further expand its
presence in Fiji. Remembered by many as the company
that successfully retrieved the sunken cargo vessel Some of PacTow’s cadets from PNG who are currently studying in Fiji at the Pacific Centre for Maritime
‘Southern Phoenix’ from Suva Harbour in 2019, PacTow Studies. Cadets such as these, as well as from Solomon Islands, and potentially Fiji may soon have the
is pursuing similar opportunities. If successful at securing opportunity to train on vessels conducting salvages around Fiji’s coastlines, as well as on cargo vessels
long-term work in Fiji, it will do what it has done in internationally.
Solomon Islands. That is, recruit locally and invest heavily
in training, including the introduction of a cadetship scholarship program. staff and has a fleet of 20 vessels permanently deployed at PNG’s five main ports,
“We are a proud PNG and therefore Melanesian, as well as South Pacific as well as in Honiara. In addition to its core business of harbour towage, PacTow
business” stresses Kasnari. “In PNG we are 97 percent nationalised, and this provides a broad spectrum of other marine services including ocean towage,
includes our management team. In Solomon Islands, where we have operated emergency response, commercial diving, life raft services, and salvage. To date
since 2012, we are 100 per cent nationalised. We will bring the same ‘local it has conducted nearly 100 salvages throughout Melanesia. PacTow is part of a
content rich’ model to Fiji.” larger sea and land logistics group wholly owned by Steamships Limited.
PacTow is PNG’s largest marine services business. It employs more than 250

To learn more about PacTow: www.pacifictowingmarineservices.com

Sponsored Content Islands Business, October 2024 39