Marine salvage is a discipline defined by urgency, complexity, and risk. Every operation is different, and every operation is high-stakes – multi-million-dollar assets, lives, and marine ecosystems are often at risk. In Melanesia, Pacific Towing (PacTow) has consistently demonstrated the expertise and resolve to tackle these challenges head-on. A homegrown Papua New Guinean business headquartered in Port Moresby, PacTow has earned its reputation as the region’s leading marine services provider. At the core of nearly every salvage operation PacTow undertakes is its commercial diving team – the only permanently based unit of its kind in Melanesia.
Over the past two decades, PacTow has completed close to 100 successful salvage and wreck removal operations, involving a diversity of vessels ranging from bulk carriers to general cargo ships, and from fishing vessels to yachts. These projects have taken PacTow not only across PNG but also further afield – throughout Melanesia, into Micronesia, across to Indonesia, and even into northern Australia. This extensive track record underscores both the demand for and the trust in PacTow’s capability.
That capability is further evidenced by PacTow’s standing in the global salvage community. It remains Melanesia’s only full member of the International Salvage Union (ISU), the body that represents the world’s leading professional salvors. It is also the region’s only member of the International Spill Control Organization (ISCO), reflecting its role in protecting marine environments. These affiliations are not merely symbolic; they attest to PacTow’s adherence to international standards of salvage practice, safety, and environmental stewardship.
What distinguishes PacTow from many other salvage operators is the central role of its commercial diving team. Salvage operations – whether patching hull breaches, sealing fuel tanks, or rigging heavy lifts – are almost always dependent on skilled divers working in hazardous conditions. PacTow’s diving team brings a combination of local knowledge, international training, and experience that is unmatched in the region.
There are 18 divers – all Papua New Guinean – in PacTow’s commercial diving team. Diving Manager Ricky Leka has been diving for PacTow for 20 years and leading his team for 13. Another seven divers have been with the company for more than 10 years.
Uniquely, the PacTow diving team is the only permanently based commercial diving operation in Melanesia. This ensures that PNG and neighbouring nations have 24/7 access to a highly qualified dive team without the costs and delays of flying in specialists from more developed countries further afield. The team holds both PNG and Australian diving certifications – a rare dual qualification that guarantees compliance with regulatory frameworks.
PacTow’s divers also regularly travel for international training, honing skills in subsea engineering, salvage techniques, and safety systems. The company also supports PNG’s diver recompression facility in Port Moresby, and several of its divers are certified hyperbaric chamber technicians.
divers who has more than 10 years’ experience with the company alone.
Beyond Salvage: Serving PNG’s Oil and Gas Sector
While salvage remains the most high-profile demonstration of PacTow’s diving expertise, the team’s contribution extends well beyond emergency response. As PNG’s oil and gas industry continues to expand, demand for reliable and locally available subsea services is growing. PacTow’s divers are increasingly engaged in underwater inspections, maintenance of subsea infrastructure, and pipeline support. Their capacity to provide a cost-effective and certified local solution is vital for a sector that values safety, efficiency, and the minimisation of downtime.
PacTow’s investment in its commercial diving team is not just about building technical capability; it is also about developing local capacity. This is evident in the five young commercial diving trainees currently in PacTow’s team. By developing homegrown divers and technicians, the company contributes to skills transfer and workforce development in PNG. This ensures that the nation has its own cadre of diving professionals who can respond to crises and support its economic growth.
Marine salvage will always be a demanding field, and in Melanesia, it is PacTow that consistently answers the call. Central to that capability is its commercial diving team – the region’s only permanent professional diving operation, staffed by divers with international qualifications and unparalleled local knowledge.
