PAPUAN SEA PILOTS
“The Marine Professionals you Deserve”
Experience Overview
Extensive background in offshore and harbour marine pilotage.
Skilled in navigating and managing marine operations in complex environments.
Offshore Oil & Gas Specialisation
Expertise in FPSO/FSO commissioning.
Proficient in Single Point Mooring (SPM) maintenance, including commissioning and decommissioning.
Strong operational knowledge of offshore oil and gas facility activities.
Papuan Sea Pilots
A PNG‑owned pilotage organisation delivering safe, standards‑driven marine operations for Port Moresby and offshore energy facilities.
Who We Are
Papuan Sea Pilots (PSP) is a fully Papua New Guinea–owned and operated pilotage provider, licensed to serve Port Moresby and committed to the International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organisations (ISPO). The company operates through Papuan Sea Pilots Pty Ltd and uses a modern, paperless SharePoint‑based system to support efficient, transparent operations.
PSP was established to address PNG’s shortage of experienced marine pilots for offshore oil and gas development, bringing together a team with decades of frontline experience.
What We Deliver
Harbour Pilotage — NMSA‑licensed pilots with more than 30 years of combined experience guiding vessels safely in and out of Port Moresby.
Offshore Oil & Gas Pilotage — Expertise in FPSO and SPM operations, backed by 15 years FPSO/FSO experience in Australia and 35 years of collective offshore SPM experience in PNG.
SPM Operations & Risk Management — Proven capability in planning, risk assessment, and procedure development, recognised by industry partners for professionalism, accountability, and teamwork.
Track Record in FPSO, FSO and SPM Operations
Our mentor pilots have contributed to major FPSO, FSO and SPM projects across Australia, the Timor Sea and Papuan New Guinea, including:
Jabiru Venture (Australia’s first converted tanker dis-connectable FPSO - Timor Sea - commissioned 1986)
Challis Venture (Australia’s first new built fixed FPSO - Timor Sea - commissioned 1988)
Skua Venture (Australia’s second converted tanker dis-connectable FPSO - Timor Sea - commissioned 1990)
Griffin Venture (Australia’s first new purpose‑built dis-connectable FPSO offshore Karratha, WA - -commenced construction 1992 in Samsung Korea - Commissioned offshore Karratha, Western Australia 1994.)
Dampier Spirit 1999-2000 - FSO situated off Dampier WA.
Kumul Marine Terminal SPM pilotage 2003 - 2022.
Pilotage for tandem mooring and loading of export tankers were performed inhouse by FPSO Master (Pilot) and Mooring Masters. This long operational history positions PSP to support PNG’s upcoming offshore developments, including the country’s first FSO project scheduled to begin in 2028 and to transition to localization of PNG offshore pilotage.
Our Commitment
We aim to deliver reliable, standards‑driven pilotage services while maintaining open communication and continuous improvement. PSP is built by pilots, for pilots and operators — ensuring safe navigation, operational excellence, and genuine value for our customers.
Our Pilotage Service Areas
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![View from the front of a large ship with many pipes and a crane, sailing through the ocean with a foggy coastline in the distance.]()
Kumul Marine Terminal Pilotage
About Papuan Sea Pilots
Papuan Sea Pilots brings nearly two decades of specialised experience in the challenging offshore environment of the Kumul Marine Terminal (KMT). The team’s background in pilotage, mooring, and FPSO operations underpins a strong safety culture and deep local knowledge.
Our Offshore Expertise
Extensive experience in Kumul operations, one of the region’s most demanding terminals due to strong seasonal trade winds and major river outflows.
Proven capability operating within strict berthing criteria, including a 3.0 m Hmax limit for SPM berthing operations and at disconnect criteria at 3x100t load pull on the hawser within an hour that equates approximately to about 4.5m HMax.
Long-standing involvement in KMT since 2003, supporting the transition from Chevron to Oilsearch and contributing to safe, continuous operations.
A Track Record of Safe, High‑Standard Operations
Successfully completed the 2003 pilotage transition after a four‑week observation period with Chevron Pilots.
Operational Context
Localization of assistant mooring masters began in 2016.
Organizational changes occurred during the transition period.
Performance and Safety Outcomes
Two expatriate pilots continued operating in a back‑to‑back arrangement.
Operations were completed without any incidents, despite staffing levels falling below those defined in the original Safety Case approval.
Identified Compliance Gap
Management‑imposed localization resulted in operational conditions that did not meet the original Safety Case requirements.
Purpose of Papuan Sea Pilots
Established to correct the identified deviation from approved safety standards.
Ensures navigation and mooring operations remain compliant, consistent, and safely staffed.
Delivered safe pilotage for significant operations, including the British Reliance maiden berthing in 2016.
Commitment to Safety and Compliance
Offshore operations are conducted in alignment with Safety Case requirements, ensuring full compliance across all project entities.
Papuan Sea Pilots operates under an ISPO‑certified Safety Management System, meeting both ISPO and OCIMF offshore standards.
Procedures developed from 18.5 years of KMT experience are independently audited by Lloyd’s Register.
Ready for Kumul Marine Terminal
Papuan Sea Pilots, a PNG‑owned company, achieved Pilot‑Ready status for KMT on 10 October 2023. The team remains fully prepared to support terminal operations through standard tender processes. Owned by all Pilots (not by one Pilot) with its ISPO by pilots for pilots provides bussines security for bussiness owners.
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![View of an oil tanker ship sailing in calm waters near an island with green hills, with a clear blue sky overhead.]()
Port Moresby Pilotage
Pilot Expertise
Class 1 Pilots: Capt. John Sigging and Capt. John Baleilekutu, fully licensed for Port Moresby.
Trainee Pilots: Avei Guba and Albert Oala, both with strong local knowledge and operational experience.
Notable Experience: Class 1 Pilots piloted and berthed a Kumul export tanker at Napanapa Oil Terminal during COVID‑19.
Pilot Transfer Capabilities
Third‑Party Vessels: Uses ISPO‑approved vessels; Argo Marine’s Shooting Star is fully permitted for safe transfers in Port Moresby.
Helicopter Transfers: Approved procedures under ISPO SMS; pursuing arrangements with Heli New Guinea. Heli New Guinea has conducted Helicopter pilot transfers offshore on and off at the Kumul Marine Terminal pilotage areas.
Operational Record: Completed 18.5 years incident free approved transfers using offshore supply vessels and two helicopters transfers. These are vailable in Port Moresby should the need arise. Otherwise the Argo vessel Shooting star is licensed and based in Port Moresby.
Navigation & Technology
RTK System: Collaboration with AD Navigation who will provide PSP with its own RTK installation in Port Moresby harbour.
Facilities & Readiness
Pilot Accommodation: Secure downtown Port Moresby apartment housing two duty pilots; central hub for pilotage equipment.
Security Advantage: Close proximity to pilot boarding berths ensures rapid response during security concerns.
Medical Support
ISPO‑Approved Provider: ASPEN Medical Centre in downtown Port Moresby designated for pilot and personnel emergencies.
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![Photograph of a model ship named Griffin Venture, displayed in a frame, with a plaque indicating it was commissioned in 1994. The frame has labels that read, 'Presented to Captain Fuata Jione' and 'Griffin Venture Commissioning 1994'.]()
Offshore FPSO operation and Pilotage.
Professional Background and FPSO Experience
Offshore Leadership and FPSO Expertise
Captain Fuata Jione brings more than a decade of hands‑on FPSO experience, beginning in 1988 and progressing to FPSO Master in 1991 at just 31 years old. His career spans the full lifecycle of major offshore projects—from design and construction through delivery, commissioning, and long‑term operations. He has served on key Australian FPSOs including Jabiru Venture, Skua Venture, and Challis Venture, gaining deep operational knowledge across both disconnectable and fixed facilities.
Griffin Venture Operations
Captain Jione played a central role in the operation of the Griffin Venture FPSO offshore Karratha, Western Australia, supporting BHP Petroleum and joint‑venture partners including INPEX. The facility exported crude via tandem‑moored tankers and delivered gas to the Onslow Gas Plant via subsea pipeline. He also oversaw tanker vetting for BHP’s Kutubu crude exports at the Kumul Marine Terminal.
Technical Capability and Operational Excellence
The Griffin Venture FPSO featured advanced systems including twin azimuth thrusters, dual‑fuel Typhoon gas turbines, LP/HP processing plants, gas export pumps, and deep‑well cargo pumps. Captain Jione piloted and loaded more than 300 tankers and introduced static towing practices that were later adopted across all BHPP FPSO operations. His leadership included mentoring Australian mariners and embedding operational insights into project design and safety case development.
Building Capability for PNG’s Offshore Future
Papuan Sea Pilots (PSP), a PNG‑owned company, is preparing for new opportunities following the recent FID for an offshore FSO development. PSP is committed to training PNG marine pilots and mariners in tandem mooring and offshore loading operations, with or without static tow. The company was founded to support aspiring PNG offshore professionals, providing a clear pathway into oil and gas operations and ensuring local talent is ready to meet the demands of future projects.
