ASTO Awarded Extension of Abt Contract until Dec 2025!

AST Oceanics has been successfully delivering the Contract for Supply & Management of a Motorised Landing Craft Barge in the South Fly Region, PNG since October 2021. The contract is in support of the Australia – PNG Sub National Program (APNGSP) –  Western Provence Partnership (WPP) and is in its second extension to December 2025. Abt Associates, Brisbane,  is contracted by DFAT to manage and operate the APNGSP across PNG, including one of its four sub-programs,  the Western Province Partnership (WPP).  An element  of the WPP is the provision of a shipping service to support stakeholder activities along the coast of the South Fly District of Western Province and, more specifically, the Torres Strait Treaty villages.

Fig 1.0 – MV ISLANDER Alongside Port Moresby October 2021

The objective of the Contract is to provide effective and reliable maritime transportation by exclusive access to the landing craft MV ISLANDER and its embarked tender, the smaller landing craft / river truck LC HUMBII. The use of these vessels permits the Western Provence Partnership (WPP) to:

a) better access the South Fly communities along the region’s coast and navigable inland river systems;

b) transport heavy equipment, such as a bore drill, as part of Australia’s longer-term investment in the region’s water security infrastructure;

c) provide emergency response to emerging food and water shortages; and

d) transport WPP program workers and those of other agencies and stakeholders who support the implementation of the Australian assistance and development program.

ASTO have engaged ARGO Marine, a significant vessel and port facilities owner and operator in PNG , to provide and operate the vessels MV ISLANDER and its tender LC HUMBII in support of the Contract. ARGOs Head office is located in Port Moresby and the company has significant experience operating in coastal areas of PNG, including the South Fly Region.