Matson Navigation Company announced that it has placed one Palauan cadet on board one of its vessels that serves the US West Coast-Guam route. The young cadet still has a long way to go before he can serve as a ship captain or pilot, but this is a good start for him and good news for Palau, Minister Ngiraingas reports. The Micronesian Shipping Commission has been trying to place cadets on ships operating in the region under MSC Entry Assurance Certificates for years now. This summer, thanks to partnership between MSC and Matson Navigation Company, one young Palauan and two other cadets from FSM finally sets foot on Matson ships.
Minister Ngiraingas also reported that the Micronesian Shipping Commission is working with the General Managers of Palau Public Utilities Corporation and the FSM Petro Utilities to explore the possibility of purchasing fuel in bulk from less expensive sources in order to reduce the impact of increasing fuel costs.This coming July 2009, the MSC will hold its annual meeting in Palau and has agreed to invite other ministers from the other Pacific Island Countries (PIC) to attend the meeting as observers. Palau will be hosting this important meeting whereby Minister Ngiraingas will assume the helm of MSC as chairman for this year. A host of important issues will be taken up during this meeting which relates to shipping within the three entities (Palau, FSM, RMI) in the North Pacific.
