The Asian Development Bank and Papua New Guinea government have signed a loan worth 41.5 million US dollars to fund a Maritime and Waterways Safety Project.
The project will help improve navigational aids, allowing ships to travel more safely through PNG's largely uncharted and often unsafe waters.
With over 600 islands spanning a total sea area of over 3.1 million square kilometers, PNG relies heavily on its network of coastal shipping services.
The Country Director of ADB's PNG Resident Mission, Marcelo Minc, says the project will upgrade the existing navigational aids network, reducing risks such as the blockage of shipping channels which causes serious injury, loss of life, and environmental damage.
