News in Brief
Celebrating our Women In Maritime
19 May 2023
Celebrating our incredible team of women at Pacific Towing Marine Services yesterday as part of International Women in Maritime Day.
PacTow have implemented several initiatives to empower and grow their female seafarers, with pay parity being one of their key achievements. PacTow GM Neil Papenfus aims to one day achieve the goal of have an all-female crewed (and captained) tug operating out of the business' base and HQ.
Steamships Opens Buk BIlong Pikinini Baruni LLC
03 March 2023
Steamships was very proud to officially open the Baruni Library Learning Centre (LLC) with the team from Buk bilong Pikinini and the Hon . Dadi Toka Mbe.
The new addition is the third of a public-private partnership which also included LLC's in Vabukori and Pari village.
The BbP LLC was allocated one of the new classrooms of Baruni Elementary School, also opened last week, Baruni Elementary welcomed more than 240 children to the school. The program is a charity organisation popular for delivering its Early Childhood Education program and Library services.
Bill Doa Neill joins Pacific Palms Property as National Leasing Manager
08 February 2023
Pacific Palms Property (PPP), the property division of Steamships is delighted to welcome Bill Doa Neill as the National Leasing Manager.
Mr. Neill joins PPP from the Brian Bell Group where he was Commercial Business Development Manager, bringing to the team over ten years of experience in commercial and project management. Mr. Neill has joined at an exciting time for the business, as PPP undergoes exceptional growth in 2023, with major projects; Portside Business Park, Harbourside South and the Hagen DOBEL center scheduled to be completed by mid-2023. His knowledge of the Papua New Guinean landscape and wealth of experience both locally and internationally will bring a fresh perspective and seniority to the division.
On Mr. Neill's appointment, Rupert Bray, Steamships Managing Director, says “We are pleased to be joined by another young, highly qualified and experienced manager. We look forward to Bill’s contributions to the growth and development of PPP in the years to come.”
Mr. Neill was educated at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland before earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing at the Queensland University of Technology.
As a group, Steamships is committed to supporting and promoting local talent. Mr. Neill is the latest addition to the senior management team of Pacific Palms Property.
Steamships Returns to Bougainville
16 February 2022
Nerakaa oto’oto’ke meriaing (New Spirit, New Deal, New Bougainville)
On Wednesday 16 February 2022 Managing Director Rupert Bray and a delegation from Steamships attended a ceremony in the North Nasioi District to mark the repossession of state lease titles. The ceremony was hosted by the President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and his Ministers to mark the first steps in economic rehabilitation through welcoming back former lease holders in Bougainville, beginning with Steamships.
IMAGE: (LR) ABG Minister for Lands, Physical Planning, Environment and Conservation, Hon. Robert Hamal Sawa, MBHOR; President of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MBHOR, Member for North Nasioi Constituency & ABG Minister for Finance & Treasury Hon. Mathias Salas, MBHOR, Managing Director Steamships Limited, Rupert Bray, before the ceremony.
Steamships has a long history in Bougainville. With a presence in Kieta before the crisis through hospitality, retail and shipping and during the crisis through our shipping and stevedoring business. Nikana Stevedores is a 50/50 joint venture between Steamships and local Kieta landowners and employs over 75 Bougainvilleans contributing millions of Kina to the local economy every year.
The occasion was significant because Steamships is the first businesses to return to Bougainville following the mandated processes set by the ABG. The full drawdown of all powers and functions for Land Administration in late 2021 from the National Government to the ABG has allowed for Bougainville to fully administer its land titles and provided a way forward for Steamships in Bougainville.
The Steamships project team, led by Group Legal Counsel, Deborah Onga, and on-ground lead consultant Moira Eka, then commenced discussions with the ABG through the President’s Office, the ABG Lands Minister, and the District office and traditional land custodians in North Nasioi, Toniva and Kieta to access and map out existing land assets and a viable plan of rehabilitation.
IMAGE: (LR) Hon. Robert Hamal Sawa, Rupert Bray, Hon. Mathias Salas, President Ishmael Toroama
Recognition must be given to the traditional land custodians in the Kieta District who have respected the rule of law and leaseholder rights. Their mindset was that they were caretakers during and post-crisis. When the subject of repossession and rehabilitation was brought to their chiefs and representatives, they were happy to open communication lines and become active participants in the way forward for their district and set a precedent for the rest of Bougainville. Consultations and open discussions with all stakeholders culminated in a symbolic customary ceremony on Wednesday 16 February attended by the President of the AROB, members of his cabinet, chiefs, and community of North Nasioi, and Steamships.
Managing Director, Rupert Bray, addressed the ABG and the people of North Nasioi, saying that Steamships is committed to the revitalisation of the economy, to help the people of this district and Bougainville realise their economic potential and aspirations of self-sustainability. He expressed his delight in being able to return to Bougainville as a developer and thanked the President and the people of Bougainville for welcoming Steamships so sincerely.
Mr Bray acknowledged the Project Team and the ABG Lands Minister Hon. Hamal Sawa and his team for their efforts thus far, as any form of reconciliation and rehabilitation and recovery takes many different stakeholders to participate in the journey. He reassured President Toroama that Steamships takes its responsibilities seriously and acknowledged that this is the first step in a long journey to realising a vibrant economy.
IMAGE: (LR) President of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MBHOR & Managing Director Steamships Limited, Rupert Bray in conversation after the planting of coconut trees
President Ishmael Toroama who hosted the ceremony expressed his gratitude to Steamships and welcomed the move to rehabilitate existing leases. “Your confidence in my government gives confidence to other would-be investors and companies who are interested in conducting business on Bougainville,” President Toroama said.
“It signifies that Bougainville has returned to normalcy and we have a conducive business environment that is ready to exploit the various investment opportunities on our resource-rich islands,” President Toroama added.
President Toroama and MD Rupert Bray participated in a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony where His Excellency said 'Graun yu mas kisim bek Steamships' and both gentlemen planted coconut trees to mark the historical occasion.
Steamships has evolved and consolidated since it was last active in Bougainville. From trade and hardware store and shipping into six businesses that span three diverse industries:
- Property, Pacific Palms Property
- Hospitality, Coral Sea Hotels & Enzos
- Transport and Logistics, East West Transport, Consort Express Lines, Pacific Towing, and JV Port Services.