Prime Minister Commissions Medical Ship In PNG

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Honourable Peter O’Neill, officially commissioned YWAM Medical Ships – Australia’s (YWAM MSA) new Training and Medical Ship, the MV YWAM PNG in Port Moresby last night in the presence of 150 key stakeholders and dignitaries.
The MV YWAM PNG entered Papua New Guinea’s waters for the first time on Monday morning ready for its first deployment in the Southern and Huon Gulf region.
The MV YWAM PNG was purchased in December last year following a successful five-month public awareness and fundraising campaign during which $6.5 million AUD was raised and pledged amongst Government departments, businesses and individuals in Australia, Papua New Guinea and beyond.
The MV YWAM PNG is four times bigger than YWAM MSA’s former vessel, the MV Pacific Link, and will help YWAM MSA increase their operations by over 500%.
YWAM MSA’s Managing Director, Mr Ken Mulligan, said that the event last night was a momentous occasion.
“It was wonderful to take time to celebrate with our key stakeholders who have helped make this possible.”
“The biggest donor towards the purchase of the MV YWAM PNG was the PNG National Government through the National Department of Planning – we are very honoured to have such strong support from the Government – the commissioning last night represented the start of a new chapter in our partnership in helping to reach hundreds of isolated communities,” said Mr Mulligan.
The Minister for Planning and Monitoring, Honourable Charles Abel, said that he was pleased to be supporting such an innovative mission.
“PNG’s geographical challenges make it difficult to deliver services – our support of YWAM Medical Ships is about getting creative and coming up with innovative solutions to get services out to the far reaches of the country – I’m incredibly proud to give our support,” said Minister Abel.
Almost 100 medical, marine and general volunteers from all over the world will be joining the MV YWAM PNG tomorrow before sailing to the Gulf Province for its first outreach this weekend.