When the MV YWAM PNG set sail for the Philippines, it wasn’t just a repositioning voyage, it was a powerful symbol of growth, opportunity, and international exposure for the crew on board.
Among the crew of 13, 11 were Papua New Guinean, including Peter, who recently completed his Mate Class 5 training through the partnership between YWAM Medical Ships – Australia & PNG (YWAM MS) and Pacific Maritime Training College (PMTC). With seafarer documents issued by the National Maritime Safety Authority in hand, the journey offered Peter valuable sea time and real-world navigation experience in international waters – a critical step toward his maritime officer certification.
“Completing my Mate 5 course and putting it into practice on board has been a whole new experience for me,” says Peter. “I’m happy to be part of the crew that brought the ship to dry dock, where learning has met real-world operations.”
For five of the PNG crew members, the Philippines voyage marked their first time ever leaving their home nation. Crossing borders by sea opened their eyes to new cultures, broadened their global perspective, and boosted their confidence as developing maritime professionals. “It’s been a great opportunity to come to the Philippines to experience another culture,” says Iava Moses, another crew member from PNG. “The people from here are very friendly and open, I’ve been able to share about my experiences from my home in Papua New Guinea.”
As the MV YWAM PNG undergoes life extension works in the Philippines, the PNG crew continues to build their practical knowledge, working alongside international technicians and learning the intricacies of ship operations in a major shipyard environment. These lessons are foundational not just for their careers, but for strengthening PNG’s presence in regional maritime service.
Beyond the technical training, the crew’s presence in the Philippines also speaks to the strength of the growing local talent fostered by YWAM MS, where volunteers like Peter are not only contributing to life-changing outreach in remote communities, but also gaining the skills and experience to influence the future of PNG’s maritime sector. And ultimately, every skill gained, every repair made, and every mile sailed is preparing the vessel to return to PNG, ready to support community development and deliver vital healthcare to some of the nation’s most remote and underserved regions.
YWAM MS is proudly supported by the PNG National Government, the Australian Government through the PNGAus Partnership, Henry Schein, Kumul Minerals, Western Provincial Health Authority, NCDC, Hiri Koiari Open Electorate, PNG Ports Corporation, Parkside Group, Port of Townsville, Ok Tedi Mining, Colgate-Palmolive, 1300SMILES, Honeycombes Property Group, Sir Brian Bell Foundation, Ela Motors, Mills Dental, ExxonMobil PNG, Mitsubishi Electric, Days for Girls, AkzoNobel, Lions Recycle for Sight, City of Townsville, Pro-Ma Systems, Pacific Islands International, Rotarians Against Malaria, AVIS, Coutts Redington, Mun, Pacific Marine Group, Medical Dental Solutions, Kingdom Air Conditioning, Dawson & Associates, Hu-Friedy, Trukai, Gearbox Solutions, Luminell, Lancini Property & Development, Wison/Ryan/Grose, Universal Cranes, World Vision, PwC, Septodont, Mocom Australia, PVW Partners, 3M, GE Healthcare, Austal, FileMaker, and Pacific Towing.
