100% PNG-Owned · Ro-Pax Ferry & Cargo

Moving Papua New Guinea's people, produce & possibility by sea.

Nesian Shipping Services Limited is acquiring PNG's first modern Ro-Pax passenger and cargo ferry — connecting Port Moresby and Lae today, and the wider Pacific and Australian organic export market tomorrow.

Explore the Investment Case See the Service
900
Passengers per crossing
260
Vehicles / cargo capacity
<24h
Port Moresby → Lae
Phase 1 Route
PORT MORESBY LAE
2 return sailings weekly · Economy from PGK 350
The Problem

Air is the only option — and it's buckling under demand

Every day, thousands of people and tonnes of cargo compete for a handful of seats on two domestic carriers. There is currently no passenger ferry service on the Port Moresby–Lae corridor.

  • Frequent flight delays

    Disruptions ripple into missed domestic and international connections for travellers between Lae and Port Moresby.

  • Overcrowded terminals

    Both domestic airports face long queues and overcrowding from high passenger volumes with too few flights.

  • Almost no cargo capacity

    Limited hold space means frequent bumping of passengers and no room for perishable or high-value goods.

2,408 / day
Passengers flying between Port Moresby and Lae daily on Air Niugini Fokker 100 and PNG Air ATR 72 services
130,000+
People reached across our Facebook, WhatsApp and SurveyMonkey market surveys — 100% of respondents said they would use a passenger ferry service
The Solution

A safe, spacious Ro-Pax service — built for people, vehicles and cargo

One ship, one crossing: passengers travel in comfort while their vehicles, produce and freight travel with them — no unloading, no missed connections.

Economy

600 seats

Comfortable reclining seating with cafeteria, entertainment and internet access included.

PGK 350per trip, incl. GST
Premier

150 seats

Extra legroom and priority boarding for business travellers and families making the overnight crossing.

PGK 550per trip, incl. GST
1st Class Business

150 seats

A quiet, dedicated cabin for executives and corporate accounts travelling the POM–Lae corridor regularly.

PGK 750per trip, incl. GST
260 vehicles — sedans, SUVs, utes, 25-seater buses, freezer & container trucks
30kg luggage allowance per passenger
General cargo, high-value & perishable goods accepted
Cafeteria with a strict no-alcohol policy
Onboard entertainment & internet
2 return sailings per week, POM ⇄ Lae
The Journey

Port Moresby to Lae, in under a day

Our vessel covers in 18–22 hours a route that currently takes conventional shipping 5–7 days — following the standard coastal shipping lane both ways.

Port MoresbyDeparture
Hula CoastCoastal passage
Milne BayIsland waters
Ferguson Is.Navigation point
Tufi & MorobeApproach
LaeArrival
Safety at Sea

Safety is the standard we compete on

PNG waters have seen overcrowded, under-maintained ferries in the past. Our approach is built to be the opposite of that history.

01

Proven vessel design

A high-speed hull that has already navigated the Pacific and Mediterranean, built to international maritime standards under Spanish maritime regulation.

02

Daily maintenance

Checks conducted every day by dedicated crew and engineers, with a backup vessel targeted within 24 months of launch for uninterrupted service.

03

Full insurance cover

Vessel and crew insured through PNG insurance partners, with cover available for passengers and specific cargo. Businesses may also arrange their own cover.

04

Weather-first sailing

In extreme weather, we prioritise safety over schedule — with refunds or accommodation provided for any voyage delayed more than six hours.

Boarding via metal detectors
Sniffer dogs for drug & bomb inspection
Random breathalyzer testing
Vehicle inspection before loading
Dedicated security staff onboard
Boarding pass issued per passenger
Market & Economic Impact

An organic, market-validated opportunity

No passenger ferry service currently exists on this route — and the communities who would use it have already told us so.

100%
Of survey respondents preferred a ferry option over current alternatives
0
Existing passenger ferry operators on the POM–Lae corridor
<24mo
Targeted return on investment
US$4.5M+
Expected minimum annual return, conservative 10% forecast
Facebook — PNG Market Place
135 of 12,900 members surveyed
100% in favour
WhatsApp — PNG Trade-Link
52 of 441 members surveyed
100% in favour
SurveyMonkey — Global Reach
112 participants, worldwide
Strongly in favour
Year One Financial Snapshot

Built on a conservative operating case

Modelled on one-third passenger capacity and half cargo capacity utilisation in year one — with growth from there.

Revenue
PGK 191.1M
First 12 months of operation
Operating Costs
PGK 82.5M
Total year-one operational cost
Gross Profit Margin
PGK 108.6M
Year-one margin
EBITDA
PGK 63.8M
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortisation

Figures reflect a conservative first-year model; five-year projections show continued growth in revenue, margin and EBITDA as passenger and cargo utilisation scale toward full capacity.

Partnership Investment

A one-time seed opportunity, ahead of our institutional raise

Nesian Shipping has engaged an international investment bank to raise the capital required for vessel acquisition. Alongside that, we are opening a local and regional partnership round.

Seed Capital Sought
AU$2,000,000

Offered for a 10% equity stake — a one-time offer ahead of going public for the second vessel and additional routes.

Request the Full Prospectus

Use of funds

  • NMSA licensing & regulatory approvals
  • Engaging institutional investment bankers for the vessel raise
  • Five years of working capital
  • Key management & crew recruitment
  • Soft launch marketing
Where This Goes Next

Opening the door to the world for our local exporters

Phase 1 proves the model on POM–Lae. What follows connects PNG's coastal communities to each other — and then to Australia's organic market.

YEAR 3–5

Connecting PNG's coast & islands

Extending service from Daru to Port Moresby, Mortlock Island to Buka, and onward to Wewak, Madang and Lae — bringing cargo capacity and passenger transport to remote coastal and island districts.

DaruBukaWewakMadang
YEAR 5–10

Port Moresby ⇄ Cairns

A weekly Ro-Pax passenger and cargo service between Motukea and ports across Northern Territory and Queensland — PNG's closest neighbours — opening organic produce, coffee and seafood exports directly to the Australian market.

Organic exportsCoffeeSeafoodQueensland & NT
Leadership

A locally-owned team, backed by global maritime experience

TR

Tomasi Raikivi

Founder & Commercial Director

Visionary transportation leader with a transformative initiative to enhance PNG connectivity through integrated sea ferry services — driving economic growth and accessibility innovation.

RM

Captain Rodney May

Senior Master

30+ years of maritime leadership with Swire Shipping and Tidewater. Extensive operational expertise instrumental in launching Nesian Shipping services and fleet expansion.

KR

Keith Raimo

Director & Chief Financial Officer

Senior CPA with extensive financial reporting and management experience at major multinational corporations in telecommunications, oil & gas, and insurance.

JK

Jack Kariko

Director & Company Secretary

Lawyer with significant experience as Secretary of the National Judicial Staff Service (NJSS), overseeing corporate affairs for PNG's higher judiciary. Former Deputy Team Leader of the DFAT-funded Australia–PNG Law & Justice Program.

DB

Dennis Bray

Logistics Director

Key leader managing the Nesian Logistics division, driving significant growth and operational efficiency and positioning the company as a competitive force in the logistics industry over the past two years.

NE

Nathan Evans

Director & Chief Technology Officer

10+ years of technology leadership in IT, cybersecurity, and enterprise security operations, with proven expertise in risk management, compliance, and digital innovation.

ER

Edwina Raikivi

Co-Owner & Director

Entrepreneur across fuel & oil distribution, eCommerce and ICT risk compliance, with a strong focus on promoting Pacific cultural heritage.

CEO

Chief Executive Officer

Pending Confirmation

A Papua New Guinean with over 25 years of maritime experience has been identified, with leadership experience at a prominent shipping company positioning the candidate to drive operational excellence and shareholder returns.

Recruitment Status

Candidates for key positions in Management, Masters, Engineers, Marketing, and Business Development have already been identified and are under assessment.

✓ Skills, experience, and vision alignment evaluation underway
“Our future economic growth doesn't have to rely on overseas grants, loans and assistance. We can grow our economy domestically by providing infrastructure for our agriculture and fishing industry, opening access to bigger markets in Papua New Guinea and neighbouring countries.”
— Tomasi Raikivi, Founder & Commercial Director, Nesian Shipping Services Limited
Get In Touch

Partner with us, or bring your business aboard

Whether you're an investor, a corporate cargo client, or a Pacific business ready to move with us — we'd like to hear from you.

Email
tomasi@nesianshipping.com
Phone
+675 8382 0866 | +614 38851552
Registered Office
PO Box 1221, Waterfront, Konedobu, NCD, Papua New Guinea