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Papua New Guinea Flag of Papua New Guinea

Pre Arrival:  Charts | Documents
Arrival:  Pilotage
Communications:  Pratique | Pre-Arrival
Pollution:  Pollution
Facilities:  Medical
Security:  Police etc | Emergency | Stowaway
Local Info:  Time | Holidays | Weather
Shore:  Telephones | Connections | Customs
Crew:  Leave | Repatriation
Misc:  Authority
General Information for Papua New Guinea
Geo-political:
Capital City: Port Moresby.
Nationality: (noun) Papua New Guinean, (adjective) Papua New Guinean.
Population: 5,940,775.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 675.
Number of Internal Airports: 21.
Major Languages Spoken: Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu are official languages; some 860 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Kina (PGK) of 100 Toea.
Exchange Rates:  (as of October 2017)
USD 1.00 = PGK 3.20
PGK 1.00 = USD 0.31
Exchange rates under licence from XE.com
Main Industries: Copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production, mining of gold, silver, copper, crude oil production, petroleum refining, construction and tourism.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Continental Shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation. Exclusive Fishing Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 5,152 km.
Climate: Tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation.
Natural Resources: Gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil and fisheries.
Natural Hazards: Active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis.
Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 32° C 24° C
June 29° C 24° C
September 30° C 24° C
CHARTS:  Nautical charts, Notices to Mariners and navigation warnings are published/issued by National Maritime Safety Authority. Full details available at
Mariners are requested to notify NMSA as soon as possible when the following are encountered:
a) new or suspected dangers to navigation discovered
b) changes observed in aids to navigation
c) corrections to publications where necessary.
To report any new information, complete the Hydrographic Note Form and send via email to [email protected] or by fax F: +675 321 0873.
Hydrographic Note (H102) available at: nmsa.gov.pg/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Hydrographic-Note-H102.pdf W:
Hydrographic Note for Port Information (H102A) available at: nmsa.gov.pg/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Hydrographic-Note-for-Port-Information-H102A.pdf
DOCUMENTS:  First Port Arrivals:  The Master or owner of a ship arriving in Papua New Guinea is required to provide Customs with a notice of the ship's impending arrival. The impending arrival report must include the estimated date of arrival of the ship at the first port in PNG or any subsequent port that the ship intends to visit. The report is required 48 hours before the nominated date of arrival indicated by the impending arrival report. If the journey from the last port is likely to take less than 48 hours, the report is required 24 hours before the estimated date of arrival.
Ships carrying cargo must communicate with the impending arrival report a cargo report (manifest) to Customs including all goods intended to be unloaded from the ship or remaining on board. This must also be submitted via the Customs ASYCUDA or to a Customs office 48 hours prior to the ship's arrival. Shipping representatives or Agents in Papua New Guinea can also assist in meeting reporting obligations determined by Customs legislation.
Aside from the cargo report (manifest), ships will be required to produce the following reports on arrival:
   Crew Effects Declaration
   Passenger and Crew Report
   Report of Ships Stores
   Ship's Report of Arrival
Penalties for noncompliance with Papua New Guinea’s border legislation can be severe; if you have any doubts whether goods in your possession require a permit or special conditions are to be met, you are advised to contact Customs for further information.
Last Port Outwards:  The Master or owner of a ship departing Papua New Guinea is required to provide Customs with a notice of the ship's impending departure. The impending departure report must include the estimated date of departure of the ship at the last port in Papua New Guinea. The report is required 24 hours before the nominated date of departure indicated by the impending departure report. Shipping representatives or agents in PNG can also assist on how to meet reporting obligations determined by Customs legislation.
Ships will be required to produce the following reports on departure:
   Passenger and Crew Report
   Report of Stores/Bunker Outwards
   Ship's Outward Report
Penalties for noncompliance with Papua New Guinea’s border legislation can be severe; if you have any doubts you are advised to contact Customs for further information.
Papua New Guinea Customs. www.customs.gov.pg
PILOTAGE:  Coastal Pilotage:  Pilotage services through China Strait, Raven Channel, Goschen and Ward Hunt Straits are conducted by pilots of Australian Reef Pilots Ltd, Hydro Pilots and Torres Pilots Ltd.
Also see Torres Strait
PRATIQUE:  Arriving Directly from Australia:  Pratique is given by radio to vessels that arrive directly from Australia to a Papua New Guinea port. Master to notify Quarantine Officer (at the port of entry to which he is proceeding) of ETA, the number of passengers and crew and whether there is any sickness on board, and to be submitted 24 and 12 hours prior to arrival. If there is no sickness on board, a reply is sent stating that pratique is granted, and when a vessel arrives the actual pratique form is delivered to the Master. Full pratique is given.
Arriving from a Foreign Port:  All vessels that arrive from a foreign port must anchor in a designated position and await arrival of a Quarantine Officer. No other person (except a pilot) is allowed to board vessel until pratique has been granted. If a pilot is on board he must remain on board until pratique is granted.
Cholera:  All passengers and crew are required to be inoculated against cholera if the vessel is expected to arrive at a port in the country within 7 days of leaving an area where cholera is either endemic or is present.
Note:  The presence on board of a qualified doctor will normally assist in the granting of pratique.
The following vessels are subject to quarantine:
  1. an overseas vessel until pratique has been granted or until the vessel has been released from quarantine
  2. a vessel on board which a quarantinable disease, or a disease that there is reason to believe or suspect to be a quarantine disease, has broken out or has been discovered (not withstanding that pratique has been granted or that it has been released from quarantine)
  3. a vessel that is ordered into quarantine by a Quarantine Officer
  4. an inland navigation vessel that enters the country by an inland water route.
The following goods are subject to quarantine:
  1. goods that are on board a vessel subject to quarantine, or, if it is an overseas vessel, that has been on board the vessel since her arrival in the country
  2. goods infected with a quarantinable disease
  3. goods that have been in contact with or exposed to infection from a quarantinable disease or goods subject to quarantine
  4. goods imported into the country by an inland water route.
Contact:  National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority.
General enquiries: T: +675 325 1673. [email protected]
Operations: T: +675 325 9977. F: +675 325 9310. [email protected]
Southern Regional Office. T: +675 321 0279. F: +675 321 0329. [email protected]
Momase & Highlands Regional Office. T: +675 479 4775. F: +675 479 3776. [email protected]
New Guinea Islands. T: +675 982 9605. F: +675 982 9606. [email protected]
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:  Customs Approved Ports:  All commercial vessels arriving in, or departing from Papua New Guinea must enter an approved Customs port (as required under the Customs Act), which is also an approved port for the purposes of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (as required under the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Security) Regulations 2005). Additionally, commercial vessels may not visit places within Papua New Guinea other than approved Customs ports.
Exceptions:  Amendments to the Customs Act that came into force in January 2006 now allows Customs, in certain circumstances, to grant passenger vessels permission to enter or depart Papua New Guinea via non-Customs approved ports, and to grant passenger vessels a cruise permit to visit places within Papua New Guinea that are not approved Customs ports.
Operators must submit their written applications at least 30 days in advance of the arrival of the vessel to allow Customs and other border agencies the time required to consider their applications. Customs will try to assist operators but it should be noted that applications could be refused due to lack of resources or other factors.
All approvals will be subject to conditions imposed by Customs to ensure compliance with various border legislation and may include full cost recovery for the use of border agencies’ resources that would normally be free of charge when provided in a Customs approved port. Failure to comply with any of the conditions imposed may lead to the approval being revoked and, in some cases, prosecution.
Passengers:  Everyone on board a vessel who is not listed as crew is considered a passenger. Passengers who are not citizens of Papua New Guinea should hold a valid passport and a valid visa before they arrive in Papua New Guinea regardless of whether they are transiting or disembarking. The visa will generally appear as a label in the passenger's passport.
Passengers who travel to Papua New Guinea on board a vessel without a visa must apply for a Border Visa at the first port of arrival. A Border Visa allows one entry into Papua New Guinea with a maximum stay of 30 days only. Only officers of the Department of Immigration can grant these visas. As officers from the Department are not permanently present at the ports, these passengers may suffer considerable inconvenience and delay on arrival.
Each passenger is required to be cleared by a clearance officer. Passengers regardless of nationality must present a valid passport and a completed Incoming Passenger Card to the clearance officer.
At the first port of arrival, the Master must provide two copies of a Passenger List detailing:
  1. passengers disembarking at that port
  2. passengers disembarking at subsequent ports (in port order)
  3. transit passengers (passengers departing Papua New Guinea on the same vessel during the course of the same voyage).
The list must include for each passenger:
  1. full name
  2. date of birth
  3. passport number and country of issue
  4. citizenship
  5. intended address in Papua New Guinea.
At each subsequent port, the Master is to provide Customs with a copy of the list of passengers disembarking at that port.
Useful information regarding immigration procedures for scheduled and charter cruise vessels can be found at the following: www.immigration.gov.pg/cruise-ships.html
Also see Documents and Repatriation
POLLUTION:  The competent national authority for dealing with marine pollution incidents is the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA). The NMSA has marine pollution preparedness and response arrangements in place. PNG can also draw on resources of the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) in Geelong though a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian government to provide mutual assistance in the event of a major oil spill incident which exceeds the response capability of either national government.
National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA). T +675 321 1244. F: +675 321 0873. nmsa.gov.pg
Reporting:  Incidents of marine pollution/spills should be reported to the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Port Moresby. T: +675 321 2969, 305 4631, 305 4660. M: +675 7017 4061. E: [email protected] or via marine radio on 4125, 6215, 8291 or 12290 MHz or VHF Channels 16/67 or 70 (DSC).
MEDICAL:  Medical facilities in Papua New Guinea are very basic. Hospitals often run out of basic drugs/supplies and suffer from power shortages. Evacuation by air ambulance to Australia is available in more serious cases. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
The Papua New Guinea government has launched a national tuberculosis awareness campaign in response to the rapidly growing number of TB cases in the country. Cases of drug resistant TB have been reported in Western and Gulf province and in Port Moresby.
UK health authorities have classified Papua New Guinea as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. Cases of Chikungunya virus have been confirmed in Papua New Guinea. Dengue fever is also present. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
If you need emergency medical assistance during your stay in Papua New Guinea, T: 111 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
POLICE/AMBULANCE/FIRE:  Papua New Guinea has different police emergency numbers for each city. Ambulance T: 111.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE:  Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Port Moresby. T: +675 321 3033, 321 2760, 321 2969, 321 0484. F: +675 321 0484. [email protected]
STOWAWAYS:  A stowaway or a concealed person on board a vessel is a person who is neither a member of the crew or the spouse or dependant of a crew member or a passenger appearing on a Passenger List.
The Master, owner, agent, charterer or operator of the vessel must notify the Customs clearance officer at the first port of arrival of any stowaways on board the vessel. Failure to comply with this requirement may incur a large penalty. All costs associated with the detention and removal of a stowaway from Papua New Guinea are the responsibility of the carrier.
HOLIDAYS:  1 January (New Year's Day); Good Friday; Easter Saturday; Easter Sunday; Easter Monday; 7 June (Queen's Birthday); 23 July (Remembrance Day); 16 September (Independence Day); 25 December (Christmas Day); 26 December (Boxing Day).
The only days on which cargo cannot officially be worked are Good Friday and Christmas Day.
WEATHER/TIDES:  The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May.
Natural Disasters:  Papua New Guinea sits along a volatile seismic strip called the ``Ring of Fire'' in the Pacific. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are possible. Seismic and volcanic activity is more likely to occur near Rabaul in East New Britain Province, Kimbe in West New Britain Province, and on Manam Island in Madang Province.
TELEPHONES:  Landline telephone numbers in Papua New Guinea consist of a seven digit national number; there are no area codes or access codes for trunk services.
CONNECTIONS:  Damage caused by heavy rain and cyclones can make travel difficult.
Given the challenging terrain, extreme weather conditions and the condition of some remote airfields in Papua New Guinea, flying in PNG carries an elevated degree of safety risk. Since 2000 over 20 aircraft accidents have happened in Papua New Guinea. The most recent being on 13 October 2011 when an Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed near Madang, killing 28 people on board.
Delays and cancellations of international and domestic flights occur regularly. Check with your airline before travel and be prepared for the possibility of a lengthy wait at the airport.
Do not use public buses known locally as PMVs. There have been incidents of armed hold-ups of PMVs and of passengers being attacked and robbed of their personal belongings. There have also been reports of occasional rape attacks on Port Moresby PMVs. Many PMVs are not roadworthy.
Taxis are available in some major centres, but can be badly maintained. If you use a taxi, agree a fare before getting setting off, irrespective of whether or not there is a meter. Where possible arrange to be met by local company/agent’s representative or a hotel courtesy bus when arriving at international or domestic airports.
CUSTOMS:  Entry regulations permit 200 cigarettes or 1 lb. of tobacco, and 40 oz. of wine or spirits.
Crew members may hold 200 cigarettes and 1 case of beer (or 1 bottle of spirits) out of bond per week.
General Imports:  Commercial goods brought into Papua New Guinea with the intention of being sold are subject to the normal rates of duty and tax where applicable.
Temporary Imports:  Goods, commercial or personal, that are brought into Papua New Guinea on a temporary basis may be admitted (under bond in lieu of duty or taxes) without the payment of duty or taxes, subject to certain conditions. Please contact Customs or speak with a Customs broker for further information.
Transshipments:  Goods being transshipped through Papua New Guinea must be reported on a cargo report. Customs will allocate a transaction number for the transshipped goods. This number will be acquitted after the consignment is exported. The number will be used on the export manifest to reconcile the two movements.
Crew Entitlements:  At first port of call in Papua New Guinea, each crew member is allowed duty free 250 cigarettes (or equivalent in tobacco products) and any one bottle of spirits (not exceeding 1.125 litres) per month. Information on Customs reporting requirements, Customs documents or advice on procedures can be obtained by contacting Customs at any Customs office.
Papua New Guinea Customs. www.customs.gov.pg
SHORE LEAVE:  Serious crime is particularly high in the capital, Port Moresby, and in the cities of Lae and Mt Hagen. Settlement or squatter areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. “Bush knives” (machetes) and firearms are often used in assaults and thefts. Carjacking, assault (including sexual assaults), bag snatching and robberies are common. Banks and cash machines are attractive targets for criminals.
Walking after dark is particularly dangerous in Port Moresby and other urban centres. Known high-risk areas include the area around Parliament House in the Port Moresby suburb of Waigani, particularly outside working hours, and along the highway between Lae and Nadzab Airport. Criminals use roadblocks on roads outside towns to stop and loot vehicles and then attack the occupants.
If you intend to travel in these areas, take great care and consider using a security escort. If you have to travel at night, do so by car, with doors locked and windows up, and travel in convoy or with a security escort.
Most crime is random, but people have been abducted by organised gangs and forced to open office safes while others are held captive until the ransom has been paid. Rape and sexual assault are problems across the country.
Don’t carry large amounts of cash or openly display expensive jewellery and electronic equipment. Be vigilant at all times and leave travel plans with friends, colleagues or reliable local contacts.
Up-to-date information available from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office at www.gov.uk/fco
REPATRIATION:  All people wishing to travel to Papua New Guinea for work, business, study or tourism purposes must have an entry permit/visa to enter the country. Visas can be obtained from your nearest PNG diplomatic mission and issued for single or multiple entries depending on the purpose of the visit.
Visa on arrival (Border Visa) is only available to eligible foreign nationals and under specific circumstances at Port Moresby's Jacksons International Airport and Tokua (Rabaul) International Airport. In order to be eligible, travellers must hold a valid travel document from one of the countries below and which states they are a citizen of that country.
American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France (including French territories for French passport holders – French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City State), Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Korea Rep. of, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR), Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands (including Dutch territories/Caribbean Netherlands for Dutch passport holders - Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Bonaire and Sint Eustatius and Saba), New Zealand (including New Zealand passport holding countries/territories, including Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau), Norway, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom (British Citizen Passport), United States (including US territories for holders of US passports - Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (US)), Uruguay, Vanuatu.
Crew Change:  Customs officers must give approval before a crew member is permitted to sign-off a vessel. Approval to sign-off is subject to a letter from the Master guaranteeing the crew member's departure within a specific period and the crew member holding an acceptable travel document.
Crew signing off their vessel and wishing to have a holiday in Papua New Guinea need a visitor visa. It is advisable that the visa be obtained before the crew member travels to Papua New Guinea. They can also apply for the visa at an office of Immigration in Papua New Guinea before signing-off their vessel. Failure to do so will make them unlawful and subject to detention and removal from Papua New Guinea.
Joining Crew:  Non-Papua New Guinea crew intending to join a vessel in Papua New Guinea must obtain a visa overseas or on arrival at the airport which will allow them to sign onto the vessel within 72 hours of their arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Reporting Absent Crew:  On departing a port in Papua New Guinea, the Master must report to Customs any crew member who was on board the vessel on arrival at that port but is absent, with or without leave, when the vessel departs that port. This does not include crew who have signed off. Failure to report absent crew could result in a large fine.
Full details of entry requirements can be obtained from Papua New Guinea Immigration & Citizenship Authority. www.immigration.gov.pg
Papua New Guinea Customs. www.customs.gov.pg
AUTHORITY:  National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), PO Box 668, Port Moresby, 121, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Tel: +675 321 1244. Fax: +675 321 0873. [email protected] http://nmsa.gov.pg Contact: Captain Nurur Rahman, Executive Manager, Maritime Operations Division.