Transport in Papua New Guinea

Last updated
Bus stuck on its way from Mount Hagen to Madang Transport in Papua New Guinea.jpg
Bus stuck on its way from Mount Hagen to Madang

Transport in Papua New Guinea is mainly based around roads (the vast majority of which is unpaved) and air travel. It is in many cases heavily limited by the mountainous terrain and copious amount of rainfall and frequent severe weather occurring in many locations, such as Lae. The capital, Port Moresby, is not linked by road to any of the other major towns and many highland villages can only be reached by light aircraft or on foot.

Contents

Governance

One of the key recommendations of the 1964 World Bank mission was the creation of a new department to manage the development of all transport modes. [1] While many of the World Bank mission's recommendations were much argued both locally and internationally, this proposal was widely accepted as it was clear that both political and economic advancement depended on greatly improved land, sea and air transport. Beginning in 1967 with the appointment of a Coordinator of Transport heading a policy unit, in 1968–69 the Department of Transport was fully established as for policy and investment in all transport modes, [2] (civil aviation regulation remained with the Australian Department of Civil Aviation).

In the late 1960s, a large development program prepared by the Department of Transport as a result of the UNDP Transport Survey of Papua New Guinea was endorsed by the PNG House of Assembly, the Australian Parliament and multilateral agencies, and implementation continued through later decades. [3] [4] This and subsequent revisions provided the basis for loans from the multilateral agencies, in particular the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and UNDP, establishing a relationship which remains. [5]

Major improvements were made to key highway links, notably between the coast and the highlands, [6] to provide international standard port facilities at Port Moresby and Lae, and in lesser ports, for international and domestic airport upgradings, and for the regulation and management of transport services. The Department of Transport remains a key government agency.[ according to whom? ] Transport assistance from Australia also continued. The Transport Sector Support Program is funded by the Australian Government and continues a long-term commitment to the sector. The Transport Sector Coordination, Monitoring and Implementation Committee (TSCMIC) brings together the heads of all the relevant agencies to coordinate work. This body was created after a National Executive Council decision and first met in July 2006. Maintenance of transport network assets remains a key challenge in order to get the best out of previous investments.

Air travel

Rural airstrip at Haia, Eastern Highlands Province Haia airstrip.jpg
Rural airstrip at Haia, Eastern Highlands Province
Columbia Helicopters, Inc, Boeing Vertol 107-II used for heavy lift transportation in Papua New Guinea. P2CHE.jpg
Columbia Helicopters, Inc, Boeing Vertol 107-II used for heavy lift transportation in Papua New Guinea.

Air travel is a very important form of transport in Papua New Guinea, for the transport of humans and high density/value freight. Aeroplanes made it possible to open up the country during its early colonial period. Even today the two largest cities, Port Moresby and Lae, are only directly connected by planes. The biggest airport in the country is Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. The national airline is Air Niugini. [7]

Airports: 578 (2007 est.)

Airports - with paved runways
2,438 to 3,047 metres (8,000 to 10,000 ft)2
1,524 to 2,437 metres (5,000 to 8,000 ft)14
914 to 1,523 metres (3,000 to 5,000 ft)4
under 914 metres (3,000 ft)1
total21
Airports - with unpaved runways
2,438 to 3,047 metres (8,000 to 10,000 ft)-
1,524 to 2,437 metres (5,000 to 8,000 ft)10
914 to 1,523 metres (3,000 to 5,000 ft)58
under 914 metres (3,000 ft)489
total557

Heliports: 2 (2007 est.)

Roadways

Bus station near Walter Bay Bus station near Walter Bay, from hills (cropped).jpg
Bus station near Walter Bay

As of 1999, Papua New Guinea has a total of 19,600 km (12,200 mi) of all-weather highway, of which only 686 km (426 mi) is sealed/asphalted. Where there are roads there are many privately operated Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs), mostly minivans, which function as unscheduled buses.

The longest road in the country is the Highlands Highway, which links Lae and Madang to the Highlands region. The Boluminski Highway links Kavieng and Namatanai in New Ireland Province. A highway linking Wewak in East Sepik Province and Vanimo in West Sepik Province was completed in September 2007. [8] The Kiunga-Tabubil Highway is a privately maintained road that links highland communities in the Western Province.

Railways

Papua New Guinea has no major railways, but some mine sites have disused tracks. During the period of German colonial control at the start of the 20th century numerous 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge plantation railways had been constructed in German New Guinea. These were built near the settlements of Madang and Rabaul. [9] After the fall of German New Guinea to the Australians in the First World War the railways fell into disrepair.

In September 2007, a mining company proposed to build a new railway to link the coast with a copper-molybdenum mine at Yandera in Madang province. [10] In 2023, a line from Lae to Vanimo was proposed by Morobe Province Governor Luther Wenge [11] and Prime Minister James Marape with the goal of expanding the region’s agricultural export opportunities. [12]

Waterways and ports

Port Moresby POM Downtown.jpg
Port Moresby

The country has 10,940 km (6,800 mi) of waterways, and commercial port facilities at Port Moresby, Alotau, Oro Bay, Lae, Kimbe, Kieta Madang, Buka, Rabaul/Kokopo, Kiunga, Wewak and Vanimo. [13]

The major exports are mining and raw materials, with some containerized trade through Port Moresby and Lae. Import volumes exceed exports, resulting in increased shipping costs as the inbound leg compensates for empty capacity on the outbound journey. Principal trade routes are southward to Australian ports, and northward to Singapore. [13]

Merchant marine:
Total: 21 ships (1,000 GT or over) totaling 36,417 GT/52,432 tonnes deadweight (DWT)[ citation needed ]
Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

In coastal locations, small "banana boat" dinghies provide a local transport service.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Papua New Guinea</span>

The geography of Papua New Guinea describes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, the islands of New Ireland, New Britain and Bougainville, and smaller nearby islands. Together these make up the nation of Papua New Guinea in tropical Oceania, located in the western edge of the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Papua New Guinea</span>

The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is largely underdeveloped with the vast majority of the population living below the poverty line. However, according to the Asian Development Bank its GDP is expected to grow 3.4% in 2022 and 4.6% in 2023. It is dominated by the agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector and the minerals and energy extraction sector. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector accounts for most of the labour force of PNG while the minerals and energy extraction sector, including gold, copper, oil and natural gas is responsible for most of the export earnings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lae</span> City in Morobe, Papua New Guinea

Lae (German: Preußen-Reede, later Lehe) is the capital of Morobe Province and is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located near the delta of the Markham River on the northern coast of Huon Gulf. It is at the start of the Highlands Highway, which is the main land transport corridor between the Highlands Region and the coast. Lae is the largest cargo port of the country and is the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea. The city is known as the Garden City and home of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wewak</span> Place in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak.

Tourism in Papua New Guinea is a fledgling industry but there are attractions for the potential visitor which include culture, markets, festivals, diving, surfing, hiking, fishing and the unique flora and fauna. Papua New Guinea receives an increasing number of visitors each year, with approximately 184,000 international arrivals in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Hagen</span> Town in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Mount Hagen is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea, with a population of 46,250. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m (5,502 ft).

Asia Pacific Airlines is an airline based in Tabubil, Papua New Guinea. It is a subsidiary of National Jet Express. It operates domestic services, as well as flights to Cairns, Australia. Its main base is Tabubil Airport.

Airlink was an airline based in Madang, Papua New Guinea that ceased operations in late July 2007. It provided high-frequency scheduled and charter services to outlying regions of Papua New Guinea. Its main base was Madang Airport, with hubs at Rabaul Airport, Kavieng Airport, Wewak International Airport and Mount Hagen Airport.

PNG Air is an airline based on the grounds of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights, as well as contract corporate charter work. Its main base is Jacksons International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team</span>

The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team represents Papua New Guinea in the team sport of Australian rules football. It is one of the nation's most successful sporting teams, currently ranked 2nd in the world behind Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian rules football in Papua New Guinea</span>

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australian rules football is a developing team sport which was initially introduced by Australian servicemen during World War II. The governing body for the sport is the PNG Rules Football Council, with the development body being AFL PNG. The junior development version is known locally as Niukick. Regionally, AFL PNG is affiliated with AFL South Pacific with an Australian development pathway through AFL Queensland.

Daulo District is part of the Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea. It is along the Highlands highway leading to the other Highlands provinces, namely Simbu Province, Western Highlands, Southern Highlands and Enga Province. Daulo District shares geographical border with Simbu Province and Madang Province. Part of Daulo District's Upper Asaro Constituency is a walking distance to Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea's highest mountain in Simbu Province. Daulo is the real home of the famous Asaro Mudmen. It has a total population of over 53,000 people. It has a small district office administered by the District Administrator who is a representative of the provincial government. The electoral member for Daulo, with the help of the governor for the province, is responsible for the set up and running of Daulo District similarly with the other districts in the Eastern Highlands Province. The district was partly the implementation of the reform initiative undertaken by the Morauta government in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Papua New Guinea</span> Second-level administrative division

This page is a list of districts of Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Lae</span>

As the township of Lae, in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea is a relatively new entity, the history of the Lae environs is much older.

Travel Air was an airline based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It operated charter and scheduled passenger services. Its main base was at Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. In 2016 the airline ceased all operations.

Tessie Soi is known throughout Papua New Guinea (PNG) as the founder of Friends Foundation. This organization supports people who have HIV/AIDS. She later became involved in supporting victims of family and sexual violence.

Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea was a Papua New Guinea airline and Ansett subsidiary founded in 1936 as Mandated Airlines.

References

  1. ↑ The Economic Development of the Territory of Papua New Guinea, World Bank, 1964
  2. ↑ Programmes and policies for the economic development of Papua New Guinea, Government Printer, Port Moresby, 1968
  3. ↑ DN Smith, Transport, development and project aid for Papua New Guinea, Annual Engineering Conference, Institution of Engineers, Australia, Newcastle, 1974
  4. ↑ RJ Sothern, The Highlands Highway, Australian Geographer , vol. 12, issue 2, September 1972
  5. ↑ GJ McDonell, Studies and Programmes for Transport Facilities in Papua New Guinea, Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, September 1970
  6. ↑ See Sothern above
  7. ↑ "Our History". airniugini.com.pg. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "East Sepik-Sandaun Highway complete". The National. 2007-09-06. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  9. ↑ "Transport — German New Guinea — German Neuguinea railways 19th Century (1884 - 1914)". PNGBuai.com.
  10. ↑ "Marengo eyes K683m copper-hauler railway". The National. 2007-09-28. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23.
  11. ↑ Kellerton, Marysila (12 January 2023). "Wenge Proposes Railway System". Loop: Your News Now.
  12. ↑ "Partnership To Build Railway System: PM". The National. 12 January 2023.
  13. 1 2 Crisp, Dale (2009-07-09). "Troubled times in paradise". Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News. Informa Australia. pp. 11–14.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.