DCN March Edition 2020

SER storing its oil spill response equipment (e.g.,
booms, skimmers, pollutant recovery and storage
pods) on PacTow premises in PNG for ease and speed
of deployment. Furthermore, SER provides oil spill
response training to PacTow mariners so that staff
from both companies can provide the service, at times
collaboratively, such as the 2019 wreck retrieval of the
Southern Phoenix container ship off Fiji.
SER manager, Simon Valentine, says, “Prepositioning
equipment with PacTow and training their
personnel in its use and in general oil spill response
procedures, substantially increases SER’s capability in
the region, allowing us to respond for our joint clients
in a timely manner, which is the key to all successful
oil spill response incidents”.
Mr Papenfus says, “The SER-PacTow oil response
partnership enables the delivery of an international
standard service with in-country infrastructure at
a domestic price”. In other words, a world-class oil
response at an extremely reasonable local rate.
In addition to SER providing oil spill response training
to PacTow, the company also trains PacTow clients such
as Puma. PacTow and SER work together to regularly
conduct training drills and exercises for Puma personnel
throughout the year. Oil spill prevention services and
equipment are provided to Puma whenever one of its
vessels discharges in Port Moresby’s Fairfax Harbour.
FUTURE COLLABORATION
SPO, SER and PacTow are exploring other ways in
which they may work together. Currently there
Anchor handling tug supply vessel Pacific Diligence
are plans on the table to introduce an emergency
management training program to PNG’s maritime
sector. Such a program would utilise SPO and SER
world-class systems and training protocols with
PacTow playing a support role.
There are other future shared service provision
options for the companies to explore. Given the
extensive oil and gas capabilities and experience of
SPO and SER, PacTow’s desire to increase its oil and gas
market share, and a history of working together with
energy clients, it is likely that PNG’s burgeoning oil
and gas sector will be a foreseeable target for expanding
their partnership.
JUMP ONBOARD AT THE PORT OF MELBOURNE
Port of Melbourne has had a strong
recruitment program since privatisation
in late 2016, including a comprehensive
induction process. Its new open plan
office also provides a great perspective
of the port for all employees.
“It was designed to emphasise our
connection to the port and to promote
collaboration and flexible workspace
options for all,” says Alex Kuras, head of
people and culture at PoM.
One area of the business it is
especially proud of is its focus on
diversity and inclusion.
“In the last 18 months a focus on
extending our usual recruitment
networks has led to the recruitment of
four female engineers in our business,”
Mr Kuras says.
One popular initiative is an employeeled
team called MAST, which has an
annual budget to deliver monthly events
that focus on health, wellbeing, inclusion
and fun. It organises events ranging
from a family day at Melbourne Zoo, to
health and skin checks, yoga classes and
women’s training and fitness classes.
An annual measurement of diversity
and inclusion as part of PoM’s employee
engagement program is entitled Jump on
Board. For example, the organisation’s
Structured Leadership Development
program is a direct consequence of the
Jump on Board program, which supports
the diversity agenda through its breadth
of membership as well as its focus on
high potential talent.
Another opportunity afforded to
PoM personnel is through its sister
port relationships. It celebrated its 45th
sister ports anniversary with Port of
Osaka in November 2019, when PoM
employees travelled to Port of Osaka
to foster closer ties and broaden their
understanding of the industry.
Port of Osaka’s key event to mark
the milestone was hosting the Global
Partner Ports Symposium. Patrick
Smith in PoM’s finance team says, “The
conference was terrific in furthering my
industry knowledge. Being part of the
finance team, it’s always beneficial to
actually learn about shipping and the
port industry”.
“This provides me with greater
context in performing my role at PoM,”
Mr Smith says. “It was also beneficial to
have the opportunity to network with
the other conference participants.”
PoM also has global port partnerships
with Port of Yokohama, Port of Tianjin,
Port of Oakland, Port of Shanghai and
Port of Philadelphia.
Emily Spiller, PoM’s environmental,
social, governance and corporate affairs
coordinator, attended the Yokohama
Maritime Forum 2019. She says, “A
focus of PoM’s visit was the theme of
sustainability and the opportunities and
challenges existing across the port and
maritime industries”.
“Overall, the visit provided a great
opportunity to collaborate and
understand how ports can embrace
their frontline position to drive positive
change and implement sustainable
solutions across a wide network to
create long-term benefits,” she says.
thedcn.com.au March 2020 55