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System1
Annual Report 2023

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FY2023 Annual Report · System1
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ANNUAL REPORT  2023

CONTENTS

Brief Profile of the Steamships Group  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 2

Financial Highlights  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 4

Chairman’s Report   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 6

Directors’ Review  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 8

Review of Operations – LOGISTICS  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 11

Consort Express Lines  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 11

Pacific Towing   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 12

Joint Venture Port Services   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 13

EastWest Transport  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 14

Review of Operations – PROPERTY AND HOSPITALITY  .15

Coral Sea Hotels  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 15

Pacific Palms Property   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 16

Sustainability   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 17

Corporate Governance  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 18

Financial Section   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 19

Statements of Comprehensive Income   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 19

Statements of Changes in Equity  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 20

Statements of Financial Position  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 21

Statements of Cash Flows  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 22

Notes to the Financial Statements  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 23

Independent Auditor’s Report  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 57

Directors’ Report   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 63

Stock Exchange Information  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 68

Company Directory   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . . 69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BRIEF PROFILE OF THE STEAMSHIPS GROUP

With over 105 years of operations in Papua New Guinea, Steamships Trading Company Limited 
(Steamships)  is  a  committed  investor  in  Papua  New  Guinea.  The  Group  is  a  well-established 
business conglomerate with diverse commercial interests and listings on both the Australian and 
PNG’s National Stock Exchanges.

Steamships has a vision to build a valuable and profitable business that is widely respected as being 
the best group to work for and with which to do business.

Integral to this vision are the following business strategies:

•   The  long-term  development  of  a  diversified  range  of 
businesses in which shareholder value can be created,

•   Employment  of  staff  who  we  believe  will  further  our 
strategic objectives and will be committed to the Group  
for  the  long  term  and  providing  them  with  rewarding 
careers,

•   Operational  excellence  in  the  way  we  conduct  our 

business,

•  Doing business in a sustainable manner, and

•   Commitment  to  the  highest  standards  of  corporate 

governance.

The  Group  employs  over  3,100  PNG  citizens  and  non- 
citizens  in  diverse  divisions  grouped  under  the  operating 
categories  of  Logistics,  Property  and  Hospitality  and 
Commercial  and 
Investments.  Steamships  core  values 
include the following:

•   Safety  –  We  prioritise  safety  awareness  and  compliance 
to  ensure  our  business  operations  are  conducted  safely.

•   Integrity  –  Taking  the  more  ethical  and  honest  path; 
honouring  our  commitments  and  delivering  on 
our  promises;  creating  a  bond  of  trust  that  sustains 
relationships  with  our  staff,  customers,  shareholders,  
business  partners  and  the  communities  in  which  we  do 
business.

•   Excellence  –  Our  customers  and  colleagues  expect  us  
to  deliver  high  quality  goods  and  services.  If  something 
is  to  be  done,  we  believe  it  should  be  done  in  the  best 
possible way.

•   Customer  Focus  –  Our  customers  are  the  final  judges 
of  our  success  or  failure.  We  understand  and  respond  
to the needs of our customers.

•   People  Development  –  We  value  a  working  
environment  that  fosters  innovation  and  encourages 
personal development and learning.

•   Humility  –  We  believe  in  the  need  to  respect  and  to  
learn  from  others.  To  do  this  we  must  be  aware  of  
our  own  limitations  and  to  seek  to  understand  other 
perspectives.

•   Continuity  –  We  take  a  long  term  view.  We  grow  
our  business  sustainably  and  create  enduring  value 
that  earns  the  respect  of  our  customers,  our  staff,  our 
communities and our shareholders.

Steamships  is  aware  of  its  prominent  position  in  the 
community  and  its  responsibility  to  serve  that  community. 
The  Group  continues  to  be  one  of  PNG’s  largest  private  
sector  employers  and  one  of  the  largest  supporters  of 
community  initiatives  in  education,  health  and  social 
welfare.  Steamships  ensures 
sustainability  
concepts are embedded in its business models and systems. 
The  Group  is  wholly  aware  that  its  business  goals  cannot 
be  achieved  unless  this  is  the  case.  Steamships  cannot 
succeed without the engagement and support of the people 
it employs, the loyalty and satisfaction of its customers, the 
local communities and the environment in which it operates.

that  core 

Over  a  century  after  it  was  founded,  Steamships  is  still 
showing  it  has  the  resources  and  capacity,  vision  and 
capability to meet the dynamic needs of a growing country.

 2  Steamships Annual Report 2023

BRIEF PROFILE OF THE STEAMSHIPS GROUP

STEAMSHIPS’ ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

STEAMSHIPS TRADING COMPANY

LOGISTICS

PROPERTY AND 
HOSPITALITY

COMMERCIAL AND 
INVESTMENTS

Colgate 
Palmolive JV 

Croesus

Consort Express 
Lines

Pacific 
Towing

EastWest 
Transport

Pacific Palms 
Property

Coral Sea 
Hotels

Harbourside 
Development JV

Pacific 
Rumana JV

Port Services

Wonye JV

JV Port Services 
(x16 JV LO Entities)

Wonye No. 2 JV

Gulf Maritime 
Services

Viva No. 31 JV

Portside Business 
Park

Steamships Annual Report 2023  3

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

2023 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue and other income from continuing operations

Profit attributable to shareholders
Cash generated from operations
Net cash (outflow) / inflow before financing
Shareholders' funds
External borrowings

Earnings per share (toea)
Dividends per share (toea)
Shareholders' funds per share

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders (Refer to page 8)
Underlying earnings per share

Gearing ratio
Interest cover
Dividend cover

2023 
K’000

2022 
K’000

Change 
(%)

669,296

58,144
103,559
(145,255)
1,052,595
420,218

631,262

57,985
183,519
30,096
1,027,010
263,084

187.5
95
33.95

50,240
162

26.8%
52.1
1.8

187.0
120
33.12

76,075
245

16.7%
74.3
1.6

6%

0%
(44%)
(583%)
2%
60%

0%
(21%)
2%

(34%)
(34%)

60%
(30%)
12%

0
0
0
’
K

0
0
0
’
K

 4  Steamships Annual Report 2023

0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics - 100 200 300 400 5002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000CommercialProperty and HospitalityLogistics0%5%10%15%20%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Turnover K'000LogisticsProperty and HospitalityCommercial - 100 200 300 400 500201420152016201720182020202120222023Earnings and Dividends ToeaEPS (toea)Underlying EPS (toea)Dividends per share (toea)0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0002014201520162017201820192020202120222023Net Assets Employed K'000LogisticsProperty and HospitalityCommercial0%5%10%15%20%201420152016201720182020202120222023Return to ShareholdersNet profit to shareholders' funds %Underlying profit to shareholders' funds %FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

SUMMARY OF PAST PERFORMANCE

2014 
K’000

2015 
K’000

2016 
K’000

2017 
K’000

2018 
K’000

2019 
K’000

2020 
K’000

2021 
K’000

2022 
K’000

2023 
K’000

STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (including discontinued operations)

Revenue

941,708

773,535

732,701  705,687 

 648,106 

 585,168   540,406 

 563,929 

 631,262 

 669,296 

Profit before tax
Share of associates profit
Income tax (expense) / credit
Minority interests
Net profit attributable to shareholders
Equity adjustment
Dividends paid or provided for the year

134,789
3,843
(38,487)
(11,490)
88,655
 - 
(43,411)

136,042
3,062
(37,710)
(2,415)
98,979
2,206
(48,062)

118,686
5,865
(35,677)
(4,664)
84,210
 - 
(40,291)

 62,686 
 7,525 
(32,621)
3,926
41,516
 - 
(32,559)

 112,493 
 5,628 
(54,420)
5,828
69,529
 - 
(26,357)

 61,284 
 5,010 
(18,928)
2,629
49,995
 - 
(44,962)

 63,813 
 4,026 
11,198
(182)
78,855
 - 
(17,055)

 88,248 
 5,062 
(1,694)
(1,066)
90,550
 2,950 
(35,659)

 79,786 
 6,288 
(26,633)
(1,456)
57,985
 - 
(35,659)

 77,103 
 7,286 
(25,722)
(523)
58,144
 - 
(32,559)

Earnings retained this year

45,244

53,123

43,919

8,957

43,172

5,033

61,800

57,841

22,326

25,585

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders 
(adjusted for significant items)

108,808

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

80,651

71,721

61,775

43,304

31,505

36,927

67,081

76,075

50,240

SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Issued capital
Retained earnings
Shareholders' funds
Non-controlling interests
EQUITY

Fixed assets / Investment properties
Investments in associated companies
Future income tax benefit
Goodwill
Other assets

24,200
711,764
735,964
30,773
766,737

24,200
24,200
764,887 808,806
833,006
789,087
48,831
47,515
881,837
836,602

 24,200 
 896,105 

 24,200 
 860,843 

 24,200 
 24,200 
 24,200 
 24,200 
 24,200 
 817,764 
 980,484  1,002,810  1,028,395 
 922,643 
841,964 920,305 885,043 946,843 1,004,684 1,027,010 1,052,595
 17,028 
 16,983 
 36,190 
963,826 1,020,929 1,044,069 1,069,623
878,154

 17,747 
 19,723 
940,028 902,790

 16,245 

 17,059 

1,115,123 1,072,955 1,068,892
66,445
36,458
36,680
36,914
80,491
80,491
400,480

 997,125 
 67,196 
 30,250 
 80,002 
284,200  294,800 

33,193
33,521
80,491
366,479

 970,928 
 890,576 
 41,586 
 65,276 
 2,311 
 1,683 
 76,433 
 76,433 
 470,810   360,385 

 945,075 
 36,992 
 1,010 
 76,433 

 933,983 
 39,367 
 2,571 
 76,433 
 428,703   464,635 

 947,451  1,073,933 
 45,495 
 45,458 
 4,627 
 2,020 
 76,433 
 76,433 
 501,242 
 444,331 

TOTAL ASSETS

1,628,807 1,627,298 1,536,708 1,469,373 1,504,778 1,451,643 1,488,213 1,516,989 1,515,693 1,701,730

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

RATIOS

190,621
671,449

541,292
249,404

184,646  221,560 
470,225  369,659 

 352,541 
 229,779 
 148,286 
 212,209   400,567   294,608 

 198,688 
 297,372 

 359,424 
 112,200 

 152,295 
 479,812 

862,070

790,696

654,871

591,219

564,750 548,853

524,387

496,060

471,624

632,107

766,737

836,602

881,837

878,154

940,028 902,790

963,826 1,020,929 1,044,069 1,069,623

Current assets to current liabilities
 1.92 
Borrowings to shareholders funds
95.2%
Gearing
47.8%
Tangible net asset backing per share (Kina)
22.13
Net profit to revenue %
9.4%
12.0%
Net profit to shareholders' funds %
Underlying profit to shareholders' funds % 14.8%
 140 
Dividends per share (toea) 
 286.0 
EPS (toea)
 351 
Underlying EPS (toea)
51.0%
Earnings retained %

 0.74 
81.7%
43.1%
24.38
12.8%
12.5%
10.2%
 155 
 319.0 
 260 
53.7%

 1.16 
57.0%
34.6%
25.84
11.5%
10.1%
8.6%
 130 
 272.0 
 231 
52.2%

1.00
50.2%
33.1%
25.74
5.9%
4.9%
7.3%
110
134.0
199
21.6%

1.15
39.7%
28.2%
27.85
11.1%
7.6%
4.7%
165
224.0
140
62.1%

1.83
35.4%
19.5%
26.65
8.5%
5.6%
3.6%
80
161.0
102
10.1%

1.40
32.1%
13.7%
28.62
14.6%
8.3%
3.9%
80
254.0
119
78.4%

1.42
26.1%
16.5%
30.46
16.0%
9.0%
6.7%
100
292.0
218
63.9%

0.68
25.6%
16.7%
31.21
9.2%
5.6%
7.4%
120
187.0
245
38.5%

1.70
39.9%
26.8%
32.03
8.7%
5.5%
4.8%
95
187.5
162
44.0%

Notes
Earnings per share = profit attributable to shareholders / average shares in issue 
Gearing = net debt / net debt plus equity 
Interest cover = earnings before interest and tax / net finance charge 
Dividend cover = profit attributable to shareholders / total dividend paid and provided

Steamships Annual Report 2023  5

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

“The  past  12  months  have  proven  to  be  tough  in  terms  of  underlying  economic  fundamentals; 
headwinds in both inflationary pressure and economic growth, as well as delayed progress of various 
natural resources projects, have dampened the post-pandemic economic recovery trajectory which 
started in 2022. Steamships, through its diversified portfolio, was able to navigate such challenges 
and provide positive returns to its shareholders, whilst at the same time executing strategic capital 
investments to position itself for sustainable growth in coming years.“  Geoff Cundle, Chairman.

Properties  experienced  firmer  demand  for  both  residential 
and commercial units, although experienced a reduction in 
available  inventory  driven  by  renovation  and  repair  work. 
The division significantly bolstered its property development 
management  team  to  support  the  increasing  number  of 
development  opportunities,  such  as  Portside  Business  Park 
and Dobel Shopping Centre, as well as expand its Property 
Management services for third parties.

Hospitality  benefited  from  overseas  government  business 
attending  international  forums  in  the  first  half  of  the  year. 
ENZO’s continues to expand its food and beverage offering 
with the opening of new outlets. Major renovation projects 
across  all  hotels  will  position  the  division  for  expected 
increased demand in years to come.

The Logistics division experienced weaker market conditions 
with results reflecting competitive pressures in an inflationary 
environment.  Early  signs  are  that  the  weak  market  in  2023 
will continue into 2024. The new Project Logistics arm of the 
division  invested  significantly  in  tugs  and  barges,  targeting 
resources projects.

The  expected  post-COVID  growth  that  started  in  2022  did 
not  continue  in  2023.  Demand  for  Logistics  products  and 
services  in  particular  experienced  only  modest  revenue 
growth (but at a higher operating cost) whilst both Properties 
and  Hospitality  divisions  were  able  to  meet  underlying 
demand profitably.

South, 

comprising  Marriott 

Harbourside 
Executive 
Apartments, a mixed-use flagship property project completed 
in  early  2024  and  opened  recently.  The  property  will 
significantly enhance the existing Harbourside precinct and 
stimulate demand and activity in the Downtown area. 

Group  Revenue  grew  by  4%  in  2023,  largely  driven  by 
hospitality  which  benefited  from  the  large  influx  of  foreign 
diplomats and Pacific Island Forum in the first half of the year.

Profit attributable to shareholders increased by 0.3% to K58.1 
million  with  insurance  proceeds  from  Blaikie  Apartments 
earthquake  damage  offsetting  a  strong  inflationary  pressure 
on  margin  as  well  as  strategic  investment  in  additional 
management  capability  undertaken  in  2023  to  position  the 
Group for growth.

Underlying  profit 
declined 34% from 2022 to K50 million.

(before  exceptional 

items)  however, 

 6  Steamships Annual Report 2023

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Steamships adopts a forward-thinking, long-term approach to 
our operations and decision-making, prioritising sustainable 
growth. The Group has made substantial investments in 2023 
across  its  portfolio  of  Properties,  Hospitality  and  Logistics 
assets in order to ensure it’s well positioned for future growth 
and upcoming project opportunities.

Papua  New  Guinea  is  our  home  and  principal  place  of 
business,  and  we  remain  committed  to  actively  foster  its 
economic  and  social  advancement. The  Board  of  Directors 
would  like  to  thank  all  our  staff  for  their  commitment  and 
personal dedication during what has been a challenging few 
years for the entire country.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  7

DIRECTORS’ REVIEW

2023 was a challenging year for Steamships. The PNG economy suffered from inflationary pressure 
and a lack of foreign currency. The anticipated surge in domestic demand, driven by investment in 
natural resource projects, was largely absent.

The Group was able to balance softer demand for its Logistics 
services  with  stronger  performance  from  Properties  and 
Hospitality.

The Group’s net operating cash flow generation decreased by 
44% to K103.6 million against K183.5 million in 2022. The 
cash balance at year end is K25.9 million.

A  final  dividend  of  60  toea  per  share  has  been  proposed 
and will be paid after the Annual General Meeting on 13th 
June  2024,  subject  to  Steamships’  ability  to  secure  foreign 
exchange for non-PNG shareholders. As there was an interim 
dividend paid during the year of 35 toea per share, the total 
dividend  for  the  year  is  95  toea  per  share  (2022:  120  toea 
per share). The dividend is unfranked and there is no conduit 
foreign income.

Change

0.3%

2023  
K’000

58,144

-
(7,904)
(7,904)

2022 
K’000

57,985

18,090
-
18,090

50,240

76,075

(34.0%)

Reflecting  its  positive  long-term  strategic  outlook,  the 
Company  invested  heavily  in  management  resources  and 
equipment to position for the incoming growth of demand.

Steamships’ sales revenue, on a continuing basis, increased 
4.0% to K656.3 million against last year’s K631.3 million, with 
improved revenue across the various businesses. Underlying 
profit fell by 34% year-on-year, primarily reflecting a higher 
cost of doing business this year.

Depreciation  in  2023  was  K104.5  million  against  K95.3 
million  in  2022,  and  interest  on  net  borrowings  (excluding 
capitalised interest) was K1.7 million against K1.2 million in 
2022.  Capital  expenditure  for  the  year  was  K222.8  million 
against K129.2 million in 2022.

Net profit attributable to shareholders
Add back / (less) impact of significant items (post tax and minority interest)

Impairment of properties
Blaikie Apartments insurance claim settlement
Total impact of significant items

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders

 8  Steamships Annual Report 2023

DIRECTORS’ REVIEW

Significant Items

Commercial

The  results  of  Colgate-Palmolive  (PNG)  Limited,  a  PNG 
incorporated joint venture, showed strong growth across most 
product  categories  as  well  as  margin  improvements  driven 
by  favourable  sales  mix  and  effective  cost  controls.  Supply 
chain  performance  has  returned  to  pre-COVID  levels  and 
inflationary pressures have been offset by price adjustments.

Trading Outlook

There is still optimism that early-works activity for the Papua 
LNG  project  and  broader  infrastructure  investment  should 
gain traction in 2024. However, there are worrying indications 
that  the  timeline  of  the  project  may  be  slipping  again. 
Steamships will maintain a cautious approach to committing 
capital  to  project  related  activity  until  final  investment 
decision  is  secured.  Steamships,  through  its  investments  in 
2023, is well positioned to benefit from an improvement in 
economic  conditions.  It  remains  committed  to  continuous 
improvement  in  productivity  and  is  vigilant  in  identifying 
opportunities for growth. The opening of Harbourside South 
should inject new vibrancy into the downtown precinct.

The  Blaikie Apartments  in  Lae  suffered  damage  because  of 
the  earthquake  in  September  2022,  resulting  in  the  Group 
making an impairment to the value reported in the previous 
financial year. The Group lodged a claim with its insurer and 
received proceeds from the claim in the 2023 financial year.

The details are as follows:

Coral Sea Hotels

Coral  Sea  Hotels’  Hospitality  division’s  solid  performance 
can be largely attributed to a significant influx of diplomatic 
visits for the Pacific Island Forum, showcasing the division’s 
ability  to  deliver  a  premium  customer  experience.  ENZO’s 
express pizza outlets continues to expand with the opening 
of new outlets. A major renovation program across all hotel 
properties in 2024 will position the division for the expected 
increase  in  demand  when  the  LNG  project  activity  gains 
momentum.

Pacific Palms Property

Pacific  Palms  Property’s  experienced  encouraging  demand 
for  both  residential  and  commercial  units.  However, 
inventory  was  reduced  to  carry  out  renovations  and  repair 
work.  This  reduced  both  revenue  growth  and  profitability. 
The  new  development  in  Port  Moresby,  Harbourside  South 
and Marriott Executive Apartments, was opened in Q1 2024. 
Phase  1  of  the  Dobel  Shopping  Centre  in  Mount  Hagen 
was completed ahead of schedule in Q3 2023. Phase 2 has 
entered final design and financing stage. 

Logistics

Both  Consort  Express  Lines  and  EastWest  Transport 
experienced headwinds driven by weak demand. Reflecting 
Steamships’ long-term horizons, additional shipping capacity 
was added to cater for expected underlying growth as well 
as resource project driven demand, arising from Papua LNG. 
The  first  assets  were  successfully  contracted  to  the  Papua 
LNG project in 2023. 

Pacific  Towing  provided  a  consistently  reliable  harbour 
towage service throughout the year. Returns were bolstered 
by salvage operations late in the year. 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  9

K’000Insurance proceeds11,292Less tax effect(3,388)Total7,904DIRECTORS’ REVIEW

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Going Concern Statement

Based  on  a  robust  assessment,  the  Directors  confirm  that 
given  the  strong  cash  generation  trend  of  the  Group,  as 
well as the level of borrowing facilities available, they have 
an  expectation  that  the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to 
continue to operate for a period of at least 12 months from 
the date of approval of financial statements. For this reason, 
they continue to adopt the going concern basis of preparing 
the financial statements.

Internal Controls Effectiveness

The  Directors  confirm 
the 
effectiveness  of  internal  controls  and  risk  management 
processes and deem them to be appropriate.

they  have  reviewed 

that 

Engagement with Traditional Landowners

Steamships’ success heavily relies on building and maintaining 
close  and  supportive  relationships  with  communities  and 
organisations that may be impacted by the decisions we take; 
Steamships  actively  engages  with  communities  through  our 
Community Grants Programme, as well as inviting cross-sector 
external partners on projects that bring community benefit and 
support sustainable development within Papua New Guinea.

At  Steamships,  we  always  aim  to  do  the  right  thing,  in  the 
right  way  and  we  make  compliance  and  business  integrity 
non-negotiable. 

For the 2023 financial year, the Directors declare that, to the 
best of their knowledge, Steamships has not engaged in any 
activities which contravene laws and regulations.

Outside Interests and Conflicts

Directors  confirm  that  all  material  interests  in  contracts 
involving the Group were declared and refrained from voting 
on manners in which they were interested.

Shareholders Engagement

Steamships  is  dedicated  to  ensuring  fair  and  equitable 
treatment of all shareholders and offers diverse channels of 
access  to  information  concerning  the  Group’s  operations. 
Directors  affirm  that  Steamships  has  made  every  effort  to 
ensure  fair  and  equitable  treatment  of  all  shareholders, 
implementing  procedures  that  safeguard  shareholder  rights 
and eliminate obstacles to the exercise of those rights.

 10  Steamships Annual Report 2023

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - LOGISTICS

CONSORT EXPRESS LINES

The  Project  Logistics  arm  of  CEL  successfully  contracted 
assets to support the Papua LNG project in H2 2023.

The  large  investment  to  enhance  its  fleet  capacity  in  2023 
was  executed  with  the  view  of  fortifying  its  position  for 
future  expansion  and  optimise  its  ability  to  seize  incoming 
opportunities.

Consort  Express  Lines  (CEL)  operates  a  fleet  of  10 
coastal vessels, all of which are PNG flagged, and is 
PNG’s only domestic operator that is ISO accredited 
for safety, environment and quality.

LINER SERVICES

CEL  connects  13  ports  around  PNG  to  the  main 
international gateway ports of Lae and Port Moresby. 
CEL also has scheduled services to the North Coast, 
South Coast, New Guinea Islands, Bougainville, and 
Western  Province.  CEL  proudly  serves  the  people 
of  PNG  by  providing  an  important  supply  link  to 
many  of  the  communities  on  its  routes.  CEL  carries 
a  range  of  cargoes  including  containerised,  break-
bulk,  reefer,  LCL  and  project  cargo.  CEL  transports 
cargo  for  a  diverse  customer  base  from  domestic 
manufacturers and wholesalers to international liner 
carriers transhipping cargo. In addition to owning and 
operating  ships,  CEL  manages  PNG’s  largest  fleet  of 
containers  offering  customers  easy  access  to  a  wide 
range of container types.

PROJECT CHARTERS

CEL  provides  short  and  long-term  vessel  charters 
specialising  in  shallow  water  river  shipping,  and 
develops, 
intermodal 
implements,  and  supports 
logistics solutions linked to land-based services such 
as  road  transport,  cargo  handling,  storage,  customs 
clearance, lay down areas and warehousing.

CEL  liner  performance  in  2023  showed  a  modest 
decline  compared  to  2022,  largely  because  of 
weak  underlying  economic  conditions.  Inflationary 
pressure,  as  well  as 
in 
management capacity, put pressure on margins.

investment 

increased 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  11

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - LOGISTICS

PACIFIC TOWING

Pacific Towing  is  PNG’s  leader  in  the  provision  of  a 
diverse range of marine services, enjoying a reputation 
for excellence and reliability across the region. 

Pacific Towing  is  a  full  member  of  the  International 
Salvage  Union  and  the  International  Spill  Control 
Organisation. Core services include towage, mooring, 
salvage  and  commercial  diving.  Although  primarily 
operating in PNG waters, Pacific Towing also services 
a broader area, if required, for salvage activity or ad-
hoc towing services. 

Pacific  Towing  operates  a  fleet  of  25  vessels  (15 
tugs and 10 associated support vessels) and has first 
responder salvage capability. Vessels are in five ports 
across PNG (being Port Moresby, Lae, Rabaul, Kimbe 
and  Madang)  and  in  Honiara,  Solomon  Islands. 
Pacific Towing is the only marine services and towage 
company  in  PNG  to  be  ISO  accredited  for  Quality, 
Safety and Environment.

The  volume  of  harbour  towage  significantly  increased 
compared  to  2022  whilst  non-harbour  operations  were 
boosted by salvage revenue in the second half of the year. 

Pacific  Towing  continues  its  strategy  of  developing  local 
talent, supporting cadets to study at the Maritime Academy 
of  Fiji.  This  programme  is  critical  to  address  the  shortage 
of  capacity  in  both  junior  and  senior  officers  in  PNG. 
Additionally, the “PacTow Women in Maritime” programme 
continues to produce high calibre female officers.

Pacific  Towing  has  committed  to  a  re-fleeting  programme 
that  will  phase  out  older  tugs  over  the  next  five  years. Tug 
Keera was purchased in 2023, and further enhances Pacific 
Towing  capacity  to  respond  to  industry  needs  throughout 
PNG. Further investment is expected in oncoming years and 
by the end of the five-year re-fleeting plan, all ports should 
be serviced.

 12  Steamships Annual Report 2023

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - LOGISTICS

JOINT VENTURE PORT SERVICES

JVPS performed in line with expectation and showed growth 
in volume compared to prior year.

Focus has been on offering a safe, reliable, and cost-effective 
service  to  all  customers.  Security  continues  to  be  a  strong 
focus and technology has been deployed as a solution where 
possible  including  biometric  payroll,  increased  levels  of 
surveillance, and improved cargo tracking. 

The Joint Venture Hire, which hires out heavy machinery on 
wet and dry leases, continued to provide a reliable service to 
all ports and to external customers.

Joint  Venture  Port  Services 
(JVPS)  operate  16 
stevedoring and cargo handling businesses throughout 
the  country  including  in  the  principal  ports  of  Port 
Moresby and Lae, secondary ports elsewhere on the 
mainland  and  on  Bougainville,  New  Ireland  and  
New Britain. 

With  a  fleet  of  specialist  equipment,  the  businesses 
handle  all  types  of  containers,  as  well  as  project 
cargo,  break-bulk,  RO-RO,  LO-LO,  grains,  and 
cement. The stevedoring companies are joint ventures 
between  Steamships  and  local  landowner  groups  at 
the  respective  ports  around  the  country.  Each  joint 
venture employs a local workforce and is structured 
in  a  manner  so  that  a  significant  share  of  earnings 
is  returned  to  the  communities  in  which  the  joint 
ventures operate. JVPS is the only group of stevedoring 
and handling companies in PNG to be ISO accredited 
for  Quality,  Safety  and  Environment.  The  business 
continues to work hard to provide a seamless logistics 
solution for customers in PNG.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  13

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - LOGISTICS

EASTWEST TRANSPORT

2023 was another challenging year for EWT. A combination 
of a general market weakness as well as excess capacity in 
the  industry  put  pressure  on  margins  as  volumes  showed  a 
relatively modest reduction compared to prior year. Both fuel 
cartage and general transport volumes have slightly declined 
from 2022.

The  focus  on  EWT  has  been  on  improving  asset  reliability 
and  availability,  consolidating  its  strategic  alignment  with 
Consort  Express  Lines  shipping  to  provide  a  “door-to-door” 
delivery across the network.

EWT continued its investment in state-of-the-art technology to 
drive operational efficiencies and develop a digital customer 
experience  as  well  as  strengthening  its  management  in  key 
positions.

East  West  Transport  (EWT)  is  one  of  Papua  New 
Guinea’s  largest  trucking  companies,  providing  a 
range of transport related activities. 

It is ISO accredited for Environmental Management, 
Occupational Health & Safety and Quality. 

Based  in  Port  Moresby,  EWT  has  operations  in  Lae, 
Kimbe,  Rabaul,  Madang,  Wewak,  Alotau,  and 
Kavieng.  EWT  has  a  sizable  fleet  of  prime  movers, 
heavy  and  light  trucks,  forklifts  and  reach  stackers 
ranging from 2.5 to 80 tons in capacity. All equipment 
is  supported  by 
facilities, 
safety  teams,  recovery  vehicles,  and  emergency 
response  teams.  EWT’s  activities  include  bulk  fuel, 
containerised  cargo,  break-bulk  cargo,  and  depot 
services  such  as  equipment  hire,  warehousing  and 
bonded or unbonded yard storage.

localised  workshop 

EWT also offers a licensed customs cargo clearance 
service  in  Lae  and  Port  Moresby  with  the  ability  to 
clear cargo in any location where EWT has a presence. 
The  division  capitalises  on  its  close  relationships 
with  sister  companies  in  shipping  and  stevedoring 
by  offering  specialised  end-to-end  and  door-to-door 
logistics and project solutions for the mining, oil and 
gas sectors and new or existing commercial sectors.

 14  Steamships Annual Report 2023

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - PROPERTY AND HOSPITALITY

CORAL SEA HOTELS

Coral  Sea  Hotels  (CSH)  is  the  largest  hotel  group 
in  Papua  New  Guinea,  managing  seven  hotels 
throughout the country. CSH comprises of the Grand 
Papua  Hotel,  Gateway  Hotel  and  Apartments,  Ela 
Beach Hotel and Apartments in Port Moresby, Huon 
Gulf Hotel in Lae, Highlander Hotel and Apartments 
in  Mount  Hagen,  Bird  of  Paradise  Hotel  in  Goroka 
and  Cassowary  Hotel  in  Kiunga.  CSH  also  operates 
several  food  and  beverage  (F&B)  outlets  including 
ENZO’s  Pizza,  Ela  Beach  Bakery,  and  Harbourside 
Bakery.

The Port Moresby market remained oversupplied with hotel 
rooms. CSH competed effectively to secure a strong share of 
the important Pacific Island Forum event business in the first 
half of the year. 

The  Grand  Papua  Hotel  (GPH),  in  its  first  full  year  under 
Radisson brand, was once again the recipient of the ‘World 
Luxury  Hotel  Award’,  further  strengthening  its  position  as 
the leading business hotel in Papua New Guinea. GPH will 
be  undergoing  significant  refurbishment  in  2024,  during 
which  public  areas, guestrooms,  and  restaurants will  all  be 
comprehensively upgraded. 

The  targeted  investment  into  training  and  food  &  beverage 
offering  continues  as  part  of  CSH’s  overall  strategy.   The 
expansion of the ENZO’s chain continues with six stores now 
opened in Port Moresby and further new outlets are planned 
in 2024 . 

The  focus  for  CSH  continues  to  be  delivering  a  consistent, 
high-quality,  and  affordable  service  across  all  hotels  and 
restaurants.  In  line  with  this,  CSH  will  invest  significant 
resources  and  capital  in  2024  to  upgrade  all  its  hotels 
throughout  Papua  New  Guinea  to  improve  the  customer 
experience.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  15

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS - PROPERTY AND HOSPITALITY

PACIFIC PALMS PROPERTY

With  a  portfolio  of  over  200  properties  across 
Residential,  Commercial,  Retail,  and  Industrial  asset 
classes  in  Port  Moresby,  Lae,  Madang,  Wewak, 
Goroka,  Mount  Hagen,  and  Rabaul,  Pacific  Palms 
Property  (PPP)  is  one  of  the  premier  property 
developers and managers in PNG.

PPP’s  strategy  of  investing  in  projects  of  scale  and 
quality, in diversified real estate asset classes, in both 
established and upcoming locations, results in stable 
revenues, net operating income, and cashflow.

Despite the reduction of inventory, driven by renovation and 
repair work as well as reinstatement of Blaikie Apartments in 
Lae following the 2022 earthquake, the division demonstrated 
strong  economic  fundamentals,  showcasing  its  ability  to 
maximise returns from a high-quality diversified portfolio.

In  tune  with  Steamships’  long  term  investment  approach 
and commitment to development and growth of PNG, PPP 
opened  Portside  Business  Park  in  2023,  adding  another 
gateway  for  commercial  activities  in  the  region;  located  in 
the  heart  of  Port  Moresby’s  industrial  and  logistics  zone  at 
Motukea,  Portside  Business  Park  offers  PNG’s  businesses 
seamless accessibility through land and sea channels thereby 
offering strategic connectivity to domestic and global markets. 
Portside Business Park will be further developed in 2024 with 
the set up of infrastructure and commercial buildings to cater 
for increasing demand. 

PPP  further  expanded  its  reach  beyond  Port  Moresby  with 
setting  up  a  joint  venture  development  in  Mount  Hagen 
of  Dobel  Shopping  Centre,  a  large  scale,  mixed-use 
development.  Phase  I  was  completed  ahead  of  time  and 
budget in 2023, PPP is now focusing on Phase II, which will 
include supermarkets, restaurants, homeware, retail stores as 
well as government and financial agencies.

Harbourside  South,  PPP’s  latest  mixed-use  development 
in  Downtown  Port  Moresby  officially  opened  in  February 
2024  with  strong  leasing  commitments  for  its  office  and 
retail space. Its strategic location overlooking Port Moresby 
harbour  and  outstanding  facilities  will  complement  the 
existing  Harbourside  developments.  The  88  Executive 
Serviced Apartments represent the Marriott group’s first entry 
into the PNG market.

PPP continues its commitment to investing in green technology 
and  green  building  standards  in  all  its  developments. With 
its  existing  portfolio  of  ready  for  occupancy  properties 
and  its  landbank  of  properties  with  secure  titles  in  key 
strategic locations, PPP is well positioned to benefit from an 
improvement  in  demand  for  real  estate  once  the  resource 
projects ramp-up.

 16  Steamships Annual Report 2023

SUSTAINABILITY

Steamships’ commitment to Sustainable Development was underpinned in 2023 by the resolution 
of the Board of Directors that the Group will achieve net zero emissions across all three scopes 
by 2050. This is an ambitious target for a diverse conglomerate operating in an emerging market, 
but  one  that  we  see  as  imperative  as  we  support  PNG  to  achieve  its  corresponding  national 
development goals.

Work is now underway to ensure that our business is equipped 
to adapt to the risks and opportunities presented by climate 
change, to take practical steps to decarbonise our operations, 
and to develop ambitious science-based targets for net zero 
by 2050 and interim steps along the way. We continue our 
efforts to improve our environmental stewardship on a day-
to-day basis, such as introducing a recycling programme at 
our head office, removing single-use plastics from our hotel 
operations, and trialling recycled fuel product on our vessels 
in a bid to contribute to the circular economy. The expansion 
of our in-house sustainability team sets us up well to continue 
to embed sustainable business practices across all levels and 
functions of our organisation in 2024 and beyond. 

With zero fatalities recorded across our operating businesses 
in  2023,  the  Group  is  focused  in  sustaining  this  standard 
in  alignment  with  our  “Target  2”  strategy  (which  aims  to 
halve our injury frequency rate). We dedicated our efforts to 
strengthening our safety capabilities through training, smart-
system implementation, and crisis management. Notably, our 
annual safety day took place in September 2023 under the 
theme ‘Leveraging International Standards to Improve Safety 
Performance’,  featuring  interactive  sessions  attended  by 
Steamships executives, safety teams, and senior management 
from  all  divisions.  The  event  also  hosted  external  safety 
leaders to share best practices.

We  undertook  261,000  man-training  hours  to  supporting 
workforce  capabilities  through  a  comprehensive  suite  of 
training  initiatives.  Additionally,  we  conducted  a  culture 
survey, achieving a high engagement rate. The survey results 
highlighted  strengths  and  opportunities,  which  will  inform 
strategic  decision-making  to  further  our  organisational 
growth and development.

to 

sustained 

its  commitment 

local 
Steamships  has 
communities,  with  over  K1.75  million  donated 
to 
charitable  and  community  causes  in  2023  through  our 
Community  Grants  Programme  and  event  sponsorships. 
We  have  continued  to  support  long-term  partnerships  with 
organisations  including  Buk  Bilong  Pikinini,  Femili  PNG, 
and  the  Sea  Women  of  Melanesia,  to  name  a  few,  whose 
work we know to be impactful in our focus areas of Health, 

Education,  Social  Welfare,  and  Environment.  We  are  also 
delighted  to  extend  our  support  to  new  partners  looking  to 
make a difference to the economic empowerment of people 
with disabilities, to implement traditional reef custodianship 
methods  in  remote  island  communities,  and  to  provide 
WASH  facilities  for  school  pupils.  Steamships  continues  to 
sponsor the Hiri Moale Festival as a major cultural event.

As our business grows, we are mindful of the need to manage 
this growth sustainably, continuing to empower our people 
and communities while managing our environmental impact. 
We remain committed to continue this journey in 2024.

Steamships  publishes  an  Annual  SD  report  to  complement 
this Annual Report. The Annual SD Report is prepared with 
reference to the updated standards of the Global Reporting 
Initiative  (GRI),  a  worldwide  corporate 
transparency 
initiative. The report is available on the Steamships website at 
www.steamships.com.pg.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  17

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Steamships, its employees and its board are committed to achieving and demonstrating the highest 
standards of corporate governance and ethical behaviour. The Group believes that the maximisation 
of long term returns to shareholders is best achieved by acting in a socially responsible manner that 
recognises the interests of community stakeholders.

Steamships is committed to:

•   Providing  high-quality  products  and  services  to  meet 

customers’ needs;

•   Maintaining  high  standards  of  business  ethics  and 

corporate governance;

•   Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of employees and others 

with whom the Group has contact; and

•   Promoting sustainable business practice.

Steamships reports against the Australian Stock Exchange 
(ASX) recommendations and guidelines. Each section 
addressing a key principle includes references to relevant 
information that appears elsewhere in the 2023 Annual 
Report or on the Steamships’ website. Steamships believes 
it complied with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles 
(the fourth edition) during the twelve months ended 31 
December 2023, except where noted in the Corporate 
Governance Report.

Steamships’ Corporate Governance Report can be found 
at https://www.steamships.com.pg/about-us/corporate-
governance/charters-and-policies/

 18  Steamships Annual Report 2023

STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000)

Consolidated

Parent Entity

Note

2023

2022

2023

2022

Continuing Operations

Revenue
Other income
Operating expenses

OPERATING PROFIT / (LOSS)
Finance income
Finance costs 
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures

PROFIT / (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX
Income tax (expense) / credit 

PROFIT / (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

3(a)
3(a)
3(b)

3(e)
3(e)
4(b)

5(a)

656,290
13,006
(590,541)

78,755
14,174
(15,826)
7,286

84,389
(25,722)

58,667

631,262
-
(550,301)

80,961
13,537
(14,712)
6,288

86,074
(26,633)

59,441

PROFIT / (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR

58,667

59,441

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME / (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR
Attributable to:

Non-controlling interests
Shareholders

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME / (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR  
Attributable to owners arises from: 

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

523
58,144

58,667

58,144
-

58,144

1,456
57,985

59,441

57,985
-

57,985

11,503 
5,098
(1,692)

14,909
85
-
-

14,994
(1,047)

13,947

13,947

-
13,947

13,947

13,947
-

13,947

1,032
2,036
(4,831)

(1,763)
85
-
-

(1,678)
 815

 (863)

 (863)

-
(863)

(863)

(863)
-

(863)

Basic and Diluted Earnings per share 
Continuing & discontinued (toea)

3(f)

187.5t

187.0t

-

-

These Statements of Comprehensive Income are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  19

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000)

Consolidated

Share 
Capital

Retained 
Earnings

Other 
Reserves

Total 
Capital and 
Reserves

Non-
Controlling 
Interest

Total 
Equity

BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2022

24,200

1,020,779

(40,295)

1,004,684

16,245

1,020,929

Profit for the year
Dividends paid 2022

-
-

57,985
(35,659)

-
-

57,985
(35,659)

1,456
(642)

59,441
(36,301) 

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2022

24,200

1,043,105

(40,295)

1,027,010

17,059

1,044,069

Profit for the year
Dividends paid 2023

-
-

58,144
(32,559)

-
-

58,144
(32,559)

523
(554)

58,667
(33,113)

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

24,200

1,068,690

(40,295)

1,052,595

17,028

1,069,623

Parent Entity

BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2022

Loss for the year
Dividends paid 2022

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2022

Profit for the year
Dividends paid 2023

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

Share 
Capital

24,200

-
-

24,200

-
-

24,200

Retained 
Earnings

70,825

(863)
(35,659)

34,303

13,947
(32,559)

15,691

Total 
Equity

95,025

(863)
(35,659)

58,503

13,947
(32,559)

39,891

These Statements of Changes in Equity are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

There is no other comprehensive income.

 20  Steamships Annual Report 2023

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Steamships Trading Company Limited As at 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000)

Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Inventories
Income tax receivable
Asset held for sale

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investment properties
Investments in related companies
Due from related companies
Intangible assets
Deferred tax assets

TOTAL ASSETS

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liabilities
Provisions for other liabilities and charges
Due to related companies
Due to a minority shareholder
Borrowings
Income tax payable

Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions for other liabilities and charges
Borrowings

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY
Issued capital
Reserves 

Capital and reserves attributable to the Company’s 
shareholders
Non-controlling interests
TOTAL EQUITY

Note

2023

2022

2023

2022

Consolidated

Parent Entity

6
7
8
5(e)
10

10
11
4(a)
9
12
5(c)

13
14
15
9
16
16
5(e)

14
5(c)
15
16

17

28,804
184,726
39,480
5,163
-

258,173

692,559
381,374
45,495
243,069
76,433
4,627

1,443,557

1,701,730

108,680
2,576
6,122
1,862
160
32,895
-

152,295

55,234
28,086
11,191
385,301

479,812

632,107

53,436 
147,620 
28,463
12,088
3,001

244,608

558,555
388,896
45,458
199,723
76,433
2,020

1,271,085

1,515,693

108,038
2,667 
5,635 
2,902 
160 
240,022
-

359,424

57,245
24,379
10,576
20,000 

112,200

471,624

1,069,623

1,044,069

24,200
1,028,395

1,052,595

24,200
1,002,810

1,027,010

17,028

17,059

1,069,623

1,044,069

-
45,298
-
-
-

45,298

22,995
-
55,252
9,531
-
832

88,610

-
35,908
-
38
-

35,946

25,068
-
51,752
8,909
-
1,657

87,386

133,908

123,332

-
-
-
93,982
-
-
35

94,017

-
-
-
-

-

94,017

39,891

24,200
15,691

39,891

-

39,891

1,677
-
-
63,152
-
-
-

64,829 

-
-
-
-

-

64,829

58,503

24,200
34,303

58,503

-

58,503

For and on behalf of the Board:

28 March 2024

G.L. Cundle 
Chairman

R.P.N. Bray 
Managing Director

These Statements of Financial Position are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  21

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000)

Note

2023

2022

2023

2022

Consolidated

Parent Entity

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Receipts from customers
Payments to suppliers and employees
Interest received
Interest and other finance costs paid
Income tax paid

Net cash from operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Subscription of additional shares in a joint venture company
Loans issued to associated companies 
Dividends received from joint venture and associates

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments of borrowings
Loans received from subsidiaries 
Loans repaid (to) / from associated companies
Lease repayments
Dividends paid

Net cash from / (used in) financing activities

NET DECREASE IN CASH HELD
NET CASH AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

NET CASH AT END OF THE YEAR

CASH COMPRISES:
Cash and cash equivalents 
Bank overdrafts

5(e)

19(a)

6
16

627,185
(493,706)
2,401
(15,826)
(16,495)

103,559

(222,769)
6,370
(3,500)
(31,571)
2,656

(248,814)

185,000
(30,000)
-
(1,040)
(2,597)
(33,113)

118,250

(27,005)
52,914

25,909

28,804
(2,895)

25,909

628,260
(437,595)
13,526
(14,712)
(5,960)

183,519

(129,152)
6,338
-
(33,307)
2,698

(153,423)

30,000
(30,000)
-
115
(2,250)
(36,301) 

(38,436)

(8,340)
61,254

52,914

53,436
(522)

52,914

2,401
-
85
-
(137)

2,349

-
-
(3,500)
(622)
3,502

(620)

-
-
30,830
-
-
(32,559)

(1,729)

-
-

-

-
-

-

4,552
-
85
-
(117)

4,520

(3,578)
-
-
-
1,032

(2,546)

-
-
33,685
-
-
(35,659)

(1,974)

-
-

-

-
-

-

These Statements of Cash Flows are to be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

 22  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

1.    Summary of significant accounting policies 

• 

The  Company  is  a  company  limited  by  shares  and  is 
incorporated and domiciled in Papua New Guinea. These 
Group consolidated financial statements were authorised 
for issue by the Board of Directors on 28 March 2024.

The  Board  of  Directors  has  the  power  to  amend  the 
financial statements after their issue.

(a)  Basis of preparation

The  financial  statements  have  been  prepared 
in 
accordance  with  the  Papua  New  Guinea  Companies 
Act  1997  (as  amended)  and  comply  with  International 
IFRS 
Financial  Reporting  Standards 
Interpretations  Committee 
interpretations 
(IFRS 
applicable to companies reporting under IFRS and other 
generally  accepted  accounting  practice  in  Papua  New 
Guinea.  The  financial  statements  have  been  prepared 
under the historical cost convention.

(IFRS)  and 
IC) 

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity 
with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates.  It  also  requires  management  to  exercise  its 
judgement  in  the  process  of  applying  the  Company’s 
accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree 
of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions 
and  estimates  are  significant  to  the  financial  statements 
are disclosed in Note 1(z).

(i)  Standards, amendments and interpretations effective 
in the year ended 31 December 2023

The following standards, amendments and interpretations 
to existing standards became applicable for the first time 
during the accounting period ended 31 December 2023.

• 

• 

• 

  IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts. This standard replaced 
IFRS 4, which permitted a wide variety of practices 
in  accounting  for  insurance  contracts.  IFRS  17 
fundamentally changes the accounting by all entities 
that issue insurance contracts.

 Narrow  scope  amendments  to  IAS  1,  Practice 
statements  2  and  IAS  8.  The  amendments  aim 
to  improve  accounting  policy  disclosures  and  to 
help  users  of  the  financial  statements  to  distinguish 
in  accounting  estimates  and 
between  changes 
changes in accounting policies.

 Amendment to IAS 12 – deferred tax related to assets 
and liabilities arising from a single transaction. These 
amendments require companies to recognise deferred 
tax  on  transactions  that,  on  initial  recognition,  give 
rise  to  equal  amounts  of  taxable  and  deductible 
temporary differences.

 Amendment  to  IAS  12  -  International  tax  reform. 
temporary 
These  amendments  give  companies 
relief  from  accounting  for  deferred  taxes  arising 
from  the  Minimum  Tax  Implementation  Handbook 
tax  reform.  The  amendments  also 
international 
for 
introduce 
affected companies.

targeted  disclosure 

requirements 

The above changes did not have any material impact on  
the Group.

(ii)  Standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  issued 
but  not  yet  effective  for  the  year  ended  31  December 
2023 or adopted early

The following standards, amendments and interpretations 
to  existing  standards  have  been  published  and  are 
mandatory for the entity’s accounting periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2024 or later periods, but the entity 
has not early adopted them:

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Amendment to IFRS 16 – Leases on sale and leaseback 
(effective 1 January 2024). These amendments include 
requirements  for  sale  and  leaseback  transactions  in 
IFRS 16 to explain how an entity accounts for a sale 
and leaseback after the date of the transaction. Sale 
and  leaseback  transactions  where  some  or  all  the 
lease  payments  are  variable  lease  payments  that  do 
not depend on an index or rate are most likely to be 
impacted.

to 

IAS  1  –  Non-current 

liabilities 
 Amendment 
with  covenants  (effective  1  January  2024).  These 
amendments  clarify  how  conditions  with  which  an 
entity  must  comply  within  twelve  months  after  the 
reporting period affect the classification of a liability. 
The amendments also aim to improve information an 
entity  provides  related  to  liabilities  subject  to  these 
conditions.

 Amendment  to  IAS  7  and  IFRS  7  -  Supplier  finance 
(effective  1  January  2024  -  with  transitional  reliefs 
in 
the  first  year).  These  amendments  require 
disclosures  to  enhance  the  transparency  of  supplier 
finance arrangements and their effects on an entity’s 
liabilities,  cash  flows  and  exposure  to  liquidity  risk. 
The disclosure requirements are the IASB’s response 
to investors’ concerns that some companies’ supplier 
finance  arrangements  are  not  sufficiently  visible, 
hindering investors’ analysis.

 Amendments  to  IAS  21  -  Lack  of  Exchangeability 
(1  January  2025  -  early  adoption  is  available).  An 
entity  is  impacted  by  the  amendments  when  it  has 
a  transaction  or  an  operation  in  a  foreign  currency 
that  is  not  exchangeable  into  another  currency  at  a 
measurement date for a specified purpose. A currency 
is exchangeable when there is an ability to obtain the 
other  currency  (with  a  normal  administrative  delay), 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  23

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

and the transaction would take place through a market 
or  exchange  mechanism  that  creates  enforceable 
rights and obligations.

Subsidiaries  are  fully  consolidated  from  the  date  on 
which  control  is  transferred  to  the  Group. They  are  de-
consolidated from the date that control ceases.

New  IFRS  sustainability  disclosure  standards  effective 
after 1 January 2024

• 

• 

 IFRS  S1,  ‘General  requirements  for  disclosure  of 
sustainability-related  financial  information  (effective 
1  January  2024  -  This  is  subject  to  endorsement  of 
the standards by the Accounting Standards Board of 
PNG).  This  standard  includes  the  core  framework 
for  the  disclosure  of  material  information  about 
sustainability-related  risks  and  opportunities  across 
an entity’s value chain.

 IFRS  S2,  ‘Climate-related  disclosures’  (effective  1 
January 2024 - This is subject to endorsement of the 
standards by the Accounting Standards Board of PNG). 
This is the first thematic standard issued that sets out 
requirements for entities to disclose information about 
climate-related risks and opportunities.

(iii)  Comparative information

Where necessary comparative figures have been adjusted 
to conform to changes in presentation in the current year 
and comparative purposes.

(b)  Foreign currency

The Group’s functional and presentation currency is the 
Papua New Guinea Kina. Transactions in foreign currencies 
have been translated into the functional currency at rates 
ruling  at  the  date  of  the  transaction.  Amounts  payable 
to  and  by  the  Group  in  foreign  currencies  have  been 
translated to the functional currency at rates of exchange 
ruling  at  the  year  end.  Gains  and  losses  arising  from 
movements  in  foreign  exchange  rates  are  recognised  in 
the statements of comprehensive income when they arise.

(c)  Principles of consolidation

(i)  Subsidiaries

The  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporate  the 
assets  and  liabilities  of  all  subsidiaries  of  Steamships 
Trading Company Limited as at 31 December 2023 and 
the  results  of  all  subsidiaries  for  the  year  then  ended. 
Steamships Trading Company Limited and its subsidiaries 
together are referred to as the Group or the consolidated 
entity.

Subsidiaries  are  all  entities  over  which  the  Group  has 
control,  that  is  when  the  Group  is  exposed  to,  or  has 
rights  to,  variable  returns  from  its  involvement  with  the 
entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its 
power over the entity. 

 24  Steamships Annual Report 2023

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account 
for  business  combinations  by  the  Group  (refer  to  Note 
1(d)).

Intercompany 
transactions,  balances  and  unrealised 
gains  on  transactions  between  group  companies  are 
eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless 
the transaction provides evidence of the impairment of the 
asset transferred. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have 
been  changed  where  necessary  to  ensure  consistency 
with the policies adopted by the Group.

Non-controlling  interests  in  the  results  and  equity  of 
subsidiaries  are  shown  separately  in  the  statements  of 
comprehensive income, statements of changes in equity 
and statements in financial position, respectively.

(ii)  Associates

Associates  are  all  entities  over  which 
the  Group 
has  significant  influence  but  not  control  generally 
accompanying  a  shareholding  of  between  20%  and 
50%  of  the  voting  rights.  Investments  in  associates  are 
accounted  for  using  the  equity  method  of  accounting, 
after  initially  being  recognised  at  cost.  The  Group’s 
investment in associates includes goodwill identified on 
acquisition. 

The  Group’s  share  of  its  associates’  post-acquisition 
profits  or  losses  is  recognised  in  profit  or  loss,  and  its 
share  of  post-acquisition  other  comprehensive  income 
is  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income.  The 
cumulative  post-acquisition  movements  are  adjusted 
against the carrying amount of the investment. Dividends 
receivable from associates are recognised as a reduction 
in the carrying amount of the investment.

When the Group’s share of losses in an associate equal or 
exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other 
unsecured  long-term  receivables,  the  Group  does  not 
recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations 
or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and 
its associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s 
interest  in  the  associates.  Unrealised  losses  are  also 
eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an 
impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of 
associates have been changed where necessary to ensure 
consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

(iii) Joint ventures

Joint venture entities

Interests  in  joint  ventures  are  accounted  for  using  the 
equity method after initially being recognised at cost as 
for associates.

(iv) Changes in ownership interests

treats 

transactions  with  non-controlling 
The  Group 
interests  that  do  not  result  in  a  loss  of  control  as 
transactions with equity owners of the Group. A change 
in ownership interest results in an adjustment between the 
carrying amounts of the controlling and non-controlling 
interests to reflect their relative interests in the subsidiary. 
Any difference between the amount of the adjustment to 
non-controlling  interests  and  any  consideration  paid  or 
received is recognised in a separate reserve within equity 
attributable to shareholders.

When  the  Group  ceases  to  have  control  or  significant 
influence,  any  retained  interest  in  the  entity  is  re-
measured  to  its  fair  value  with  the  change  in  carrying 
amount  recognised  in  profit  or  loss.  This  fair  value 
becomes the initial carrying amount for the purposes of 
subsequently  accounting  for  the  retained  interest  as  an 
associate  or  financial  asset.  In  addition,  any  amounts 
previously recognised in other comprehensive income in 
respect  of  that  entity  are  accounted  for  as  if  the  Group 
had  directly  disposed  of  the  related  assets  or  liabilities. 
This  may  mean  that  amounts  previously  recognised  in 
other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or 
loss.

If  the  ownership  interest  in  a  jointly  controlled  entity 
or  an  associate  is  reduced  but  significant  influence  is 
retained,  only  a  proportionate  share  of  the  amounts 
previously  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income 
are reclassified to profit or loss where appropriate.

(d)  Business combinations

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account 
for  all  business  combinations,  regardless  of  whether 
equity  instruments  or  other  assets  are  acquired.  The 
consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary 
comprises  the  fair  values  of  the  assets  transferred,  the 
liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the 
Group. The consideration transferred also includes the fair 
value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent 
consideration arrangement and the fair value of any pre-
existing  equity  interest  in  the  subsidiary.  Acquisition-
related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets 
acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed 
in a business combination are measured initially at their 

fair  values  at  the  acquisition  date.  On  an  acquisition-
by-acquisition  basis,  the  Group  recognises  any  non-
controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or 
at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the 
acquiree’s net identifiable assets.

The  excess  of  the  consideration  transferred,  the  amount 
of  any  non-controlling  interest  in  the  acquiree  and  the 
acquisition date fair value of any previous equity interest 
in  the  acquiree  over  the  fair  value  of  the  Group’s  share 
of  the  net  identifiable  assets  acquired  is  recorded  as 
goodwill. If those amounts are less than the fair value of 
the net identifiable assets of the subsidiary acquired and 
the measurement of all amounts has been reviewed, the 
difference is recognised directly in determining profit or 
loss as a bargain purchase.

Where  settlement  of  any  part  of  cash  consideration  is 
deferred, the amounts payable in the future are discounted 
to  their  present  value  as  at  the  date  of  exchange.  The 
discount  rate  used  is  the  entity’s  incremental  borrowing 
rate,  being  the  rate  at  which  a  similar  borrowing  could 
be  obtained  from  an  independent  financier  under 
comparable terms and conditions.

Contingent  consideration  is  classified  either  as  equity 
or  a  financial  liability. Amounts  classified  as  a  financial 
liability are subsequently re-measured to fair value with 
changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss.

is  applied 

for  business 
Predecessor  accounting 
combinations  among  entities  under  common  control, 
including  acquisitions  of  entities  and  amalgamations  of 
entities  under common  control. Under this  method,  the 
financial statements of the combined entity are presented 
as  if  the  businesses  had  been  combined  from  the  date 
when  the  combining  entities  were  amalgamated. Assets 
and  liabilities  of  the  acquired  or  amalgamated  entity 
are  stated  at  predecessor  carrying  values.  Fair  value 
measurement is not required and no new goodwill arises 
in  predecessor  accounting.  Any  difference  between  the 
consideration given and the aggregate book value of the 
assets  and  liabilities  of  the  acquired  or  amalgamated 
entity at the date of the transaction is included in equity 
in retained earnings.

(e)  Revenue recognition

Revenue which represents income arising in the course of 
the Group’s ordinary activities is recognised by reference 
to  each  distinct  performance  obligation  promised  in 
the  contract  with  the  customer  when  or  as  the  Group 
transfers the control of the goods or services promised in 
a contract to the customer. Depending on the substance 
of the respective contract with the customer, the control 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  25

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

of the promised goods or services may transfer over time 
or  at  a  point  in  time. A  contract  with  a  customer  exists 
when the contract has commercial substance, the Group 
and its customer have approved the contract and intend 
to  perform  their  respective  obligations,  the  Group’s  and 
the customer’s rights regarding the goods or services to be 
transferred and the payment terms can be identified, and 
it is probable that the Group will collect the consideration 
to which it will be entitled to in exchange of those goods 
or  services.  At  the  inception  of  each  contract  with  a 
customer,  the  Group  assesses  the  contract  to  identify 
distinct  performance  obligations,  being  the  units  of 
account that determine when and how revenue from the 
contract with the customer is recognised. A performance 
obligation  is  a  promise  to  transfer  a  distinct  good  or 
service (or a series of distinct goods or services that are 
substantially the same and that have the same pattern of 
transfer)  to  the  customer  that  is  explicitly  stated  in  the 
contract and implied in the Group’s customary business 
practices.

A good or service is distinct if:

- 

- 

 the  customer  can  either  benefit  from  the  good  or 
service  on  its  own  or  together  with  other  readily 
available resources; and

 the  good  or  service  is  separately  identifiable  from 
other promises in the contract (e.g. the good or service 
is not integrated with, or highly interrelated with, other 
goods or services promised in the contract)

If a good or service is not distinct, the Group combines 
it with other promised goods or services until the Group 
identifies a distinct performance obligation consisting of 
a distinct bundle of goods or services.

As disclosed in Note 24, revenue from external customers 
comes from the logistics business, property and hospitality 
business, and commercial business.

Revenue  from  the  logistics  business  includes  revenue 
freight  and 
from  providing 
shipping  activities,  land  transport  activities,  towage  and 
salvage activities, and sale of goods.

following  services: 

the 

from 

freight  and  shipping  services, 

land 
Revenue 
transport services and towage services is recognised over 
time as the performance obligation (in this case transport 
or towage activity) is performed taking into consideration 
the  days  of  shipment.  In  case  of  sale  of  goods  (such  as 
containers), revenue is recognised at a point of time.

 26  Steamships Annual Report 2023

Payment terms for freight and shipping services and land 
transport  services  are  typically  30  days;  payment  terms 
for  towage  services  are  typically  within  30  days  after 
completion of service delivery. 

Salvage revenue is recognised over time as the performance 
obligation  (in  this  case  salvaging  activity)  is  performed, 
based  on  the  days  of  provision  of  service,  or  at  a  point 
of time (upon completion of the salvage job), depending 
on the nature of the salvage activity and the contractual 
terms. The  Group  recognises  salvage  revenue  over  time 
if  the  customer  simultaneously  receives  and  consume 
the benefits provided by the Group’s performance as the 
Group  performs.  In  such  cases,  the  Group  typically  has 
a  right  to  payment  based  on  work  performed  until  the 
reporting date. The Group recognises salvage revenue at a 
point in time when the customer does not simultaneously 
receive  and  consume  the  benefits  provided  by  the 
Group’s performance as the Group performs and has no 
enforceable right to payment for performance completed 
to date. 

Payment  terms  for  salvage  work  vary  between  one  and 
three months. Where salvage work is completed but the 
amount of proceeds is not known at the reporting date, 
revenue is determined on the basis of expected proceeds 
taking into account estimation uncertainty. The estimated 
amount  of  consideration  will  be  recognised  as  revenue 
only to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant 
reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognised 
will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the 
consideration is subsequently resolved.

The Group incurs costs needed to fulfil salvage contracts 
and defers these costs incurred directly related to salvage 
work, if their recovery is considered probable based on 
management’s  assessment.  If  management’s  assessment 
suggests the expenses are not expected to be recovered, 
the  estimated  unrecoverable  portion 
is  expensed 
when  incurred.  Probability  of  recoverability  of  initially 
recognised deferred salvage costs is assessed at the end 
of  each  reporting  period.  In  the  reporting  period  when 
management’s  assessment  suggests  that  these  expenses 
will not likely be recovered by revenues (i.e. the related 
contract  asset  is  deemed  impaired),  the  estimated 
unrecoverable  portion  is  expensed.  Deferred  salvage 
costs are amortised in profit or loss on a systematic basis 
consistent with the pattern of recognition of the associated 
revenue. 

Revenue  from  the  hotels  business  from  provision  of 
services  is  recognised  over  time  based  on  the  days  of 
provision of service; payments for provided services are 
made upon service delivery. Revenue from sale of goods 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

in hotels business is recognised at a point in time upon 
delivery  of  goods  under  typical  credit  term  of  30  days 
or  in  cash.  Lease  income  from  the  property  business  is 
recognised  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  term  of  the 
lease. 

Revenue from the commercial business relates to sale of 
goods and is recognised when the goods are accepted by 
the  customers,  under  typical  payment  terms  of  30  days 
after the delivery of goods.

The  following  other  income  is  recognised  across  the 
Group as follows:

Interest income

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest 
method.

Dividend income

Dividends  are  recognised  when  the  right  to  receive 
payment is established.

(f)  Income tax

The  income  tax  expense  or  benefit  for  the  period  is  the 
tax payable on the current period’s taxable income based 
on  the  notional  income  tax  rate  adjusted  by  changes  in 
deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary 
differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities 
and  their  carrying  amounts  in  the  financial  statements, 
and to unused tax losses.

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences 
arising  between  the  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities 
and  their  carrying  amounts  in  the  financial  statements. 
Deferred tax is not recognised if it arises from the initial 
recognition  of  goodwill  or  the  initial  recognition  of  an 
asset or liability in a transaction which is not a business 
combination  and  at  the  time  of  the  transaction,  affects 
neither  accounting  profit  nor  taxable  profit  (tax  loss). 
Currently enacted tax rates are used in the determination 
of deferred income tax.

Deferred  tax  assets  are  recognised  to  the  extent  that  it 
is  probable  that  future  taxable  profit  will  be  available, 
against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

(g)  Cash and cash equivalents

For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, cash and 
cash  equivalents  includes  cash  on  hand,  deposits  held 
at  call  with  banks  with  an  original  maturity  of  up  to  3 
months. Bank overdrafts are shown in current liabilities in 
the statement of financial position.

(h)  Receivables

Trade  receivables  are  amounts  due  from  customers  for 
merchandise  sold  or  services  provided  in  the  ordinary 
course of business. There are classified as current assets 
if  collection  is  expected  within  one  year.  Receivables 
are  recognised  initially  at  fair  value  and  subsequently 
measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest 
method, less provision for impairment. 

(i)  Inventories

Inventories  are  valued  at  the  lower  of  cost  and  net 
realisable  value.  In  general,  cost  is  determined  on  the 
weighted average basis and, where appropriate, includes 
a proportion of variable overhead expenditure. 

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the 
ordinary  course  of  business,  less  applicable  variable 
selling costs.

(j)  Non-current assets held for sale 

Non-current  assets  (or  disposal  groups)  are  classified  as 
held  for  sale  if  their  carrying  amount  will  be  recovered 
principally through a sale transaction rather than through 
continuing use and a sale is considered highly probable. 
They are measured at the lower of their carrying amount 
and fair value less costs to sell, except for assets such as 
deferred tax assets, assets arising from employee benefits, 
financial  assets  and  contractual  rights  under  insurance 
contracts,  which  are  specifically  exempt  from  this 
requirement.

An  impairment  loss  is  recognised  for  any  initial  or 
subsequent  write  down  of  the  asset  (or  disposal  group) 
to  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell.  A  gain  is  recognised  for 
any  subsequent  increases  in  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell 
of an asset (or disposal group), but not in excess of any 
cumulative impairment loss previously recognised. A gain 
or loss not previously recognised by the date of the sale of 
the non-current asset (or disposal group) is recognised at 
the date of derecognition. 

Non-current  assets  (including  those  that  are  part  of  a 
disposal  group)  are  not  depreciated  or  amortised  while 
they  are  classified  as  held  for  sale.  Interest  and  other 
expenses attributable to the liabilities of a disposal group 
classified as held for sale continue to be recognised.

Non-current  assets  classified  as  held  for  sale  and  the 
assets  of  a  disposal  group  classified  as  held  for  sale  are 
presented separately from the other assets in the statement 
of  financial  position. The  liabilities  of  a  disposal  group 
classified  as  held  for  sale  are  presented  separately  from 
other liabilities in the statements of financial position.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  27

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

A  discontinued  operation  is  a  component  of  the  entity 
that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale 
and  that  represents  a  separate  major  line  of  business 
or  geographical  area  of  operations,  is  part  of  a  single 
coordinated plan to dispose of such a line of business or 
area of operations, or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively 
with  a  view  to  resale.  The  results  of  discontinued 
operations  are  presented  separately  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive income.

(k)  Financial assets

The  Group  classifies  all  of  its  financial  assets  in  the 
measurement  category  ‘Financial  assets  at  amortised 
cost’. 

The Group classifies its financial assets at amortised cost 
when  the  asset  is  held  within  a  business  model  whose 
objective is to collect the contractual cash flows and the 
contractual  terms  give  rise  to  cash  flows  that  are  solely 
payments  of  principal  and  interest  (“SPPI”).  Financial 
assets of the Group that fall under this category are trade 
and other receivables, bank balances, deposits and cash, 
and loans to related companies.

At  initial  recognition,  the  Group  measures  a  financial 
asset at its fair value plus transaction costs that are directly 
attributable  to  the  acquisition  of  the  financial  asset. 
Interest income from these financial assets is included in 
finance income using the effective interest rate method. 
Any  gain  or  loss  arising  on  derecognition  is  recognised 
directly in profit or loss and presented in other gains and 
losses together with foreign exchange gains and losses.

As  of  31  December  2023  and  31  December  2022,  the 
Group had no financial instruments classified as financial 
assets at fair value through other comprehensive income 
(“FVOCI”) - Equity instruments or financial assets at fair 
value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”).

Regular  way  purchases  and  sales  of  financial  assets  are 
recognised  on  trade-date,  the  date  on  which  the  Group 
commits to purchase or sell the asset. Financial assets are 
derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from 
the financial assets have expired or have been transferred 
and  the  Group  has  transferred  substantially  all  the  risks 
and rewards of ownership.

Financial assets are classified as current assets for those 
having maturity dates of not more than 12 months after 
the  end  of  the  reporting  period,  and  the  balance  is 
classified as non-current.

Impairment of financial assets

The  Group  recognises  an  allowance  for  expected  credit 
losses  (“ECLs”)  for  all  debt  instruments  and  financial 
guarantee  contracts  issued.  ECLs  are  based  on  the 
difference  between  the  contractual  cash  flows  due  in 
accordance  with  the  contract  and  all  the  cash  flows 
that  the  Group  expects  to  receive,  discounted  at  an 
approximation  of  the  original  effective  interest  rate. The 
expected cash flows will include cash flows from the sale 
of  collateral  held  or  other  credit  enhancements  that  are 
integral to the contractual terms. For financial guarantee 
contracts,  the  ECL  is  the  difference  between  expected 
payments to reimburse the holder of the guarantee debt 
instruments  less  any  amounts  the  company  expects  to 
recover from the other party.

ECL  is  measured  based  on  either  the  general  3-stage 
approach or the simplified approach.

The  general  3-stage  approach  is  applied  for  loans  to 
related parties and financial guarantee contracts issued.

For  credit  exposures  for  which  there  has  not  been  a 
significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, 
ECLs are provided for credit losses that result from default 
events  that  are  possible  within  the  next  12-months  (a 
12-month  ECL).  For  those  credit  exposures  for  which 
there has been a significant increase in credit risk since 
initial recognition, a loss allowance is required for credit 
losses expected over the remaining life of the exposure, 
irrespective of the timing of the default (a lifetime ECL).

For  trade  receivables,  the  Group  applies  a  simplified 
approach  in  calculating  ECLs.  The  Group  does  not 
track  changes  in  credit  risk,  but  instead  recognises  a 
loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting 
date. The  Group  has  established  a  provision  matrix  that 
is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted 
for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the 
economic environment.

Collective assessment

To measure ECL, trade receivables and other receivables 
have  been  grouped  based  on  shared  credit  risk 
characteristics, such as days past due.

Individual assessment

Trade  receivables,  other  receivables  and  amounts  due 
from  related  parties  which  are  in  default  or  credit-
impaired are assessed individually.

 28  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

(l)  Property, plant and equipment

All  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  initially  recorded 
at  cost.  Borrowing  costs  directly  attributable  to  the 
acquisition or construction of qualifying assets are added 
to the cost of those assets until the assets are ready for their 
intended  use.  Land  is  not  depreciated.  Depreciation  on 
other items of property, plant and equipment is calculated 
on the straight-line method to write off the cost of each 
asset to their residual values using the below rates which 
is reflective of their estimated useful life as follows:

Buildings 
Ships 
Plant and fittings   
Motor vehicles  

  2 – 4%
  5 - 10%
  10 - 33%
  20 - 33%

Where  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  is  greater  than 
its  estimated  recoverable  amount,  it  is  written  down 
immediately  to  its  recoverable  amount.  Gains  and 
losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment are 
determined by reference to their carrying amount and are 
taken into account in determining operating profit.

Subsequent  costs  are  included  in  the  asset’s  carrying 
amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, 
only  when  it  is  probable  that  future  economic  benefits 
associated  with  the  item  will  flow  to  the  Group  and 
the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other 
repairs  and  maintenance  are  charged  to  the  statements 
of comprehensive income during the financial period in 
which they are incurred.

method. Like property, plant and equipment, investment 
properties  are  normally  depreciated  using  the  straight-
line method over similar useful lives.

(n)  Goodwill

Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the  cost  of  an 
acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the 
net identifiable assets of the acquired business at the date 
of acquisition.

Goodwill  is  capitalised  and  assessed  for  impairment 
annually  or  more  frequently  if  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances  indicate  a  potential  for  impairment  and 
is carried at cost less impairment losses. Any impairment 
is  recognised  immediately  as  an  expense  and  is  not 
subsequently reversed. 

Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the 
carrying  amount  of  goodwill  relating  to  the  entity  sold. 
Goodwill  is  allocated  to  cash-generating  units  for  the 
purpose of impairment testing.

(o)  Trade and other payables

These  amounts  represent  obligations  to  pay  for  goods 
and  services  that  have  been  acquired  in  the  ordinary 
course of business from suppliers. They are classified as 
current  liabilities  if  payment  is  due  within  one  year  or 
less. Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value 
and  subsequently  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the 
effective interest method. The amounts are unsecured and 
are usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

(m) Investment properties

(p)  Provisions

Investment  properties  include  land  held  for  long-term 
capital  appreciation  and  buildings  leased  out  under 
operating leases. Properties that comprise a portion held to 
earn rentals and a portion for own use or occupation will 
only be classified as investment property if an insignificant 
portion  is  held  for  own  use  of  occupation.  Investment 
properties are recognised when it is probable that future 
economic benefits associated with the property will flow 
to the Group and the cost of the investment property can 
be  reliably  measured.  Investment  properties  are  stated 
at  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation  and  accumulated 
impairment  losses.  Transaction  costs  are  included  on 
initial measurement. Borrowing costs directly attributable 
to  the  acquisition  or  construction  of  qualifying  assets 
are added to the cost of those assets until the assets are 
ready for their intended use. The fair values of investment 
properties are disclosed in the Note 11. These are assessed 
using  internationally  accepted  valuation  methods,  such 
as  taking  comparable  properties  as  a  guide  to  current 
market  prices  or  by  applying  the  discounted  cash  flow 

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present 
legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events; 
it  is  probable  that  an  outflow  of  resource  embodying 
economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation; 
and  a  reliable  estimate  of  the  amount  of  the  obligation 
can be made.

A  liability  for  annual  leave  is  recognised  and  measured 
at  the  amount  of  unpaid  leave  at  amounts  expected  to 
be  paid  to  settle  the  present  entitlements. A  liability  for 
long service leave is recognised taking into consideration 
expected  future  wage  and  salary  levels,  experience  of 
employee departures and periods of service, discounted 
to present values.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

A provision for estimated ship dry docking costs is only 
recognised where the Group has a contractual obligation 
under a Bare Boat charter agreement from a third party. 
Dry  docking  costs  relating  to  ships  not  under  third-
party  long-term  charter  agreements  are  only  recognised 
as  incurred  and  are  capitalised  to  the  extent  that  the 
previously  assessed  economic  benefits  associated  with 
the asset are restored.

(q)  Employee benefits

(i)  Short term obligations

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary 
benefits,  annual  leave  and  accumulating  sick  leave 
expected  to  be  settled  within  12  months  after  the  end 
of the period in which the employees render the related 
service are recognised in respect of employees’ services 
up to the end of the reporting period and are measured at 
the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are 
settled. The  liability  for  annual  leave  and  accumulating 
sick  leave  is  recognised  in  the  provision  for  employee 
benefits. All other short term employee benefit obligations 
are presented as payables.

(ii)  Other long-term employee benefit obligations

The liability for long service leave and annual leave which 
is not expected to be settled within 12 months after the 
end of period in which the employees render the related 
service  is  recognised  in  the  provision  for  the  employee 
benefits and measured as the present value of expected 
future payments to be made in respect of services provided 
by employees up to the end of the reporting period using 
the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given 
to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of 
employee  departures  and  periods  of  service.  Expected 
future  payments  are  discounted  using  the  market  yields 
at the end of the reporting period on national government 
bonds with terms to maturity and currency that match, as 
closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows.

(iii) Termination benefits

Termination  benefits  are  payable  when  employment  is 
terminated by the Group before the normal retirement date, 
or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy 
in  exchange  for  these  benefits.  The  Group  recognises 
termination benefits at the earlier of the following dates: 
(a) when the Group can no longer withdraw the offer of 
those  benefits;  and  (b)  when  the  entity  recognises  costs 
for a restructuring that is within the scope of IAS 37 and 
involves the payment of termination benefits. In the case 
of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy, the 
termination benefits are measured based on the number 

 30  Steamships Annual Report 2023

of employees expected to accept the offer. Benefits falling 
due more than 12 months after the end of the reporting 
period are discounted to their present value.

(r)  Borrowings

Borrowings  are  recognised  initially  at  fair  value,  net  of 
any  transaction  costs  incurred,  and  are  subsequently 
measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest 
method.  Borrowings  are  classified  as  current  liabilities 
unless  the  Group  has  an  unconditional  right  to  defer 
settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the 
end of the reporting period.

(s)  Impairment of assets

 Assets  that  have  an  indefinite  useful  life  are  not  subject 
to  amortisation  and  are  tested  annually  for  impairment. 
Assets that are subject to depreciation or amortisation are 
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not 
be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the 
amount  by  which  the  asset’s  carrying  value  exceeds  its 
recoverable  amount,  which  is  determined  as  the  higher 
of  an  asset’s  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  and  its  value  in 
use. For the purpose of assessing impairment, assets are 
grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately 
identifiable cash flows (cash generating units).

(t)  Borrowing costs

for 

incurred 

Borrowing  costs 
the  construction  of 
qualifying assets, which are assets that take a substantial 
period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, 
are capitalised during the period of time that is required 
to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use or 
sale. Other borrowing costs are expensed.

The  capitalisation  rate  used  to  determine  the  amount 
of  borrowing  costs  to  be  capitalised  is  the  weighted 
average interest rate applicable to the entity’s outstanding 
borrowings  during  the  year,  in  this  case  4.14%  (2022: 
3.92%)

(u)  Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent 
with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating 
decision  maker.  The  chief  operating  decision  maker, 
who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing 
performance  of 
the  operating  segments,  has  been 
identified as the Strategic Steering Committee.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

(v)  Earnings per share

Basic  earnings  per  share  is  calculated  by  dividing  the 
profit attributable to equity holders of the Group, by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding 
during the financial year. There are no potential ordinary 
shares on issue and hence the diluted earnings per share 
is equal to the basic earnings per share.

(w) Goods and services tax (GST)

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the 
amount of associated GST. Receivables and payables are 
stated inclusive of GST. The amount of GST recoverable 
from,  or  payable  to,  the  Taxation  authority  is  included 
with  other  receivables  or  payables  in  the  statement  of 
financial position.

(x)  Leases

Leases  are  recognised  as  a  right-of-use  asset  and  a 
corresponding  liability  at  the  date  at  which  the  leased 
asset  is  available  for  use  by  the  Group.  Each  lease 
payment  is  allocated  between  the  liability  and  finance 
cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the 
lease  period  so  as  to  produce  a  constant  periodic  rate 
of  interest  on  the  remaining  balance  of  the  liability  for 
each period. The right-of-use asset is depreciated over the 
shorter  of  the  asset’s  useful  life  and  the  lease  term  on  a 
straight-line basis. 

Assets  and  liabilities  arising  from  a  lease  are  initially 
measured  on  a  present  value  basis.  Lease  liabilities 
include  the  net  present  value  of  the  following  lease 
payments: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 fixed  payments 
payments), less any lease incentives receivable; 

(including 

in-substance  fixed 

 variable  lease  payments  that  are  based  on  an  index 
or a rate;

 amounts expected to be payable by the lessee under 
residual value guarantees;

 the exercise price of a purchase option if the lessee is 
reasonably certain to exercise that option, and 

 payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the 
lease term reflects the lessee exercising that option. 

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate 
implicit in the lease, if that rate can be determined, or the 
group’s incremental borrowing rate.

Right-of-use  assets  are  measured  at  cost  comprising  the 
following: 

• 

• 

 the  amount  of  the  initial  measurement  of  lease 
liability; 

lease  payments  made  at  or  before 

less  any 

lease 

the 
incentives 

 any 
commencement  date 
received; 

• 

 any initial direct costs, and 

• 

 restoration costs.

Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of 
low-value assets are recognised on a straight-line basis as 
an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases 
with a lease term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets 
comprise IT-equipment and small items of office furniture. 

Extension  and  termination  options  are  included  in  a 
number  of  property  and  equipment  leases  across  the 
Group.  These  terms  are  used  to  maximise  operational 
flexibility  in  terms  of  managing  contracts. The  majority 
of extension and termination options held are exercisable 
only by the Group and not by the respective lessor.

In  determining  the  lease  term,  management  considers 
all  facts  and  circumstances  that  create  an  economic 
incentive to exercise an extension option, or not exercise 
a termination option. Extension options (or periods after 
termination options) are only included in the lease term 
if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not 
terminated). The  assessment  is  reviewed  if  a  significant 
event  or  a  significant  change  in  circumstances  occurs 
which  affects  this  assessment  and  that  is  within  the 
control of the lessee.

(y)  Rounding of amounts

Amounts in the financial statements have been rounded 
off to the nearest thousand Kina.

(z)  Critical accounting estimates and judgments

Estimates  and  judgments  are  continually  evaluated  and 
are  based  on  historical  experience  and  other  factors, 
including  expectations  of  future  events  that  may  have  a 
financial impact on the entity and that are believed to be 
reasonable under the circumstances.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  31

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning 
the  future.  The  resulting  accounting  estimates  will,  by 
definition,  seldom  equal  the  related  actual  results.  The 
estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of 
causing  a  material  adjustment  to  the  carrying  amounts 
of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are 
discussed below:

(i)  Estimated impairment of goodwill

The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered 
any  impairment.  The  recoverable  amounts  of  cash-
generating  units  have  been  determined  based  on  value-
in-use calculations. These calculations require the use of 
estimates as further detailed in Note 12. 

(ii)   Estimated 
equipment

impairment  of  property,  plant  and 

The  Group  tests  the  recoverable  amount  of  property, 
plant  and  equipment  when  impairment  indicators  are 
identified. Where an indicator of impairment is identified, 
the recoverable amount is determined using the higher of 
fair value less cost to sell and its value in use. Fair value is 
determined using market-based information, while value 
in use is determined using a pre-tax cashflow projections 
and discount rate. Refer to Note 10.

(iii) Deferred tax assets

The analysis of the recognition and recoverability of the 
deferred  tax  assets  is  judgemental.  For  management’s 
judgments  in  relation  to  recoverability  of  deferred  tax 
assets, refer to Note 5. 

Group would expect to borrow to acquire the right-of-use 
assets in relation to land leases and property leases. If the 
incremental borrowing rate were 1% higher/(lower), lease 
liabilities as of 31 December 2023 would be K4.5 million 
lower and K8.7 million higher, respectively (2022: K4.5 
million lower and K9.3 million higher).

2.    Financial risk management

The  Group’s  activities  expose  it  to  a  variety  of  financial 
risks  including  market  risk  (including  currency,  and 
interest rate risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and capital risk. 
The  Group’s  overall  risk  management  program  focuses 
on  the  unpredictability  of  financial  markets  and  seeks 
to  minimise  potential  adverse  effects  on  the  financial 
performance  of  the  Group.  Risk  management  is  carried 
out under policies approved by the Board of Directors.

(a)  Market risk

(i)  Foreign exchange risk

The Group engages in international purchase transactions 
and  is  exposed  to  foreign  exchange  risk  arising  from 
various  currency  exposures,  primarily  with  respect  to 
the  Australian  dollar.  Foreign  exchange  risk  arises  from 
recognised assets and liabilities.

The Group’s foreign currency purchases do not represent 
a significant proportion of the Group’s costs and as such 
exposure  to  foreign  currency  risk  is  minimal.  It  is  not 
the  Group’s  policy  to  hedge  foreign  currency  risk.  As 
the  foreign  currency  exposure  is  minimal  no  sensitivity 
analysis is provided.

(iv) Incremental borrowing rate relating to lease liabilities 

(ii)   Price risk

As  disclosed  in  Note  14,  management  assessed  that 
the  weighted  average  interest  rate  on  collateralized 
borrowings  obtained  from  financial  institutions  during 
2023  and  previous  years  of  4.5%  approximates  the 
incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial adoption 
of IFRS 16 and at 31 December 2023. Therefore, this rate 
has  been  used  for  discounting  lease  payments  arising 
from state land leases and property leases. In making this 
judgment,  management  considered  the  period  of  leases 
(including extension and termination options), the quality 
of leased assets compared to assets used as collateral for 
relevant borrowings and made an assessment whether any 
adjustments to the weighted average rate on borrowings 
are needed to reflect differences in secured assets, lease 
periods  compared  to  maturity  of  borrowings,  and  other 
factors  affecting  the  incremental  borrowing  rate.  Based 
on  assessment  performed,  management  concluded  that 
the  average  weighted  interest  rate  on  borrowings  of 
approximately  4.5%  p.a.  approximates  the  rate  that  the 

The Group is not significantly exposed to equity securities 
or commodities price risk.

(iii) Cash flow interest rate risk

The  Group’s  interest  rate  risk  arises  from  long-term 
borrowings. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the 
Group to cash flow interest rate risk. Borrowings issued at 
fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk. 
Long term borrowings are a mix of fixed and variable rate 
interest.  It  is  not  the  Group’s  policy  to  hedge  cash  flow 
and interest rate risk.

At  31  December  2023,  if  interest  rates  on  PNG  Kina-
denominated borrowings had been 1% higher/lower with 
all  other  variables  held  constant,  post-tax  profit  for  the 
year would have been K5.8 million (2022: K3.6 million) 
lower/higher,  mainly  as  a  result  of  higher/lower  interest 
expense on floating rate borrowings.

 32  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

(b)  Credit risk

The  Group  has  no  significant  concentration  of  credit 
risk and it is not the Group’s policy to hedge credit risk. 
The  Group  has  policies  in  place  to  ensure  that  sales  of 
products  and  services  are  made  to  customers  with  an 
appropriate credit history and has policies that limit the 
amount  of  credit  exposure  to  any  one  customer. Where 
credit  limits  were  exceeded  during  the  reporting  period 
management has made provision for amounts considered 
uncollectible.

The  Group  has  the  following  types  of  financial  assets 
that are subject to the expected credit loss model: trade 
receivables,  other  receivables  (including  intercompany 
receivables)  and  loans  to  related  parties.  While  cash 
and cash equivalents are also subject to the impairment 
requirements of IFRS 9, impairment loss is immaterial.

The  Group  applies  the  IFRS  9  simplified  approach  to 
measuring expected credit losses, for all financial assets, 
other than loans to related parties and other receivables. To 
measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables have 
been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics 
and  the  days  past  due.  The  expected  loss  rates  are 
based  on  the  payment  profiles  of  sales  over  a  period  of 
36  months  before  31  December  2023  or  31  December 
2022 respectively and the corresponding historical credit 
losses experienced within this period. The historical loss 
rates are adjusted to reflect current and forward- looking 
information  on  macroeconomic  factors  affecting  the 
ability  of  the  customers  to  settle  the  receivables.  The 
Group has analysed GDP and employment rate of PNG to 
be the most relevant factors, and accordingly adjusts the 
historical loss rates based on expected changes in these 
factors.  Management  concluded  that  the  impairment 
provision  for  trade  receivables  is  not  materially  affected 
by changes in GDP and employment rate.

For  loans  to  related  parties  and  other  receivables,  the 
Group applies a ‘three-stage’ model for impairment based 
on changes in credit quality since initial recognition, as 
summarised below:

• 

• 

 A financial instrument that is not credit-impaired on 
initial recognition is classified in ‘Stage 1’ and has its 
credit risk continuously monitored by the Group.

 If a significant increase in credit risk (‘SICR’) since initial 
recognition  is  identified,  the  financial  instrument  is 
moved to ‘Stage 2’ but is not yet deemed to be credit 
impaired. 

• 

 If  the  financial  instrument  is  credit-impaired,  the 
financial instrument is then moved to ‘Stage 3’. 

• 

 Financial instrument in Stage 1 has their ECL measured 
at an amount equal to the portion of lifetime expected 
credit  losses  that  result  from  default  events  possible 
within  the  next  12  months.  Loans  in  Stages  2  or  3 
have  their  ECL  measured  based  on  expected  credit 
losses on a lifetime basis. 

Forward-looking  information  incorporated  in  the  model 
includes  GDP  Growth  (%)  of  Papua  New  Guinea 
economy. 

The Group considers a loan or other receivable to have 
experienced  a  significant  increase  in  credit  risk  when 
one or more of the following quantitative and qualitative 
criteria have been met: delay in payment of over 30 days, 
early  signs  of  cash  flow/liquidity  problems,  significant 
adverse changes in business, financial and/or economic 
conditions  in  which  related  party  operates,  actual  or 
expected forbearance or restructuring, significant change 
in collateral value (for collateralised loans).

The  Group  defines  a  financial  instrument  as  in  default, 
which  is  fully  aligned  with  the  definition  of  credit- 
impaired,  when  it  meets  one  or  more  of  the  following 
criteria:  delay  in  payment  of  over  90  days,  significant 
financial  difficulty  of  related  party  (such  as  long-term 
forbearance, insolvency, or probability of bankruptcy). A 
loan or other receivable is considered to no longer be in 
default (i.e. to have cured) when it no longer meets any of 
the default criteria at the reporting date.

The  Expected  Credit  Loss  (ECL)  is  measured  on  either  a 
12-month (12M) or Lifetime basis depending on whether 
a  significant  increase  in  credit  risk  has  occurred  since 
initial recognition or whether an asset is considered to be 
credit-impaired. 

All  of  the  Group’s  loans  to  related  parties  as  at  31 
December 2023 and 31 December 2022 are classified in 
‘Stage 1’. Further, management assessed that no material 
impairment  provision  on  loans  to  related  parties  is 
necessary given the following: 

• 

• 

 Loans  to  related  parties  are  repayable  on  demand 
and  the  Group  expects  to  be  able  to  recover  the 
outstanding balance of related loans, if demanded; 

 Loans  to  related  parties  have  not  had  significant 
increase  in  credit  risk  since  the  loans  were  first 
recognised; 

• 

 There  are  no  historic  losses  or  write  offs  on  these 
loans; 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  33

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

• 

 As  a  result,  impairment  provision  is  based  on 
12-month  expected  credit  losses,  which  results  in 
immaterial impairment provision. 

Similarly, the Group’s other receivables as at 31 December 
2023 and 31 December 2022 are classified in ‘Stage 1’, 
as they are either current or overdue up to 30 days, and 
the Group has not noted a significant increase in credit 
risk.

(c)  Liquidity risk

Prudent  liquidity  risk  management  implies  maintaining 
sufficient  cash  and  the  availability  of  funding  through 
an  adequate  amount  of  committed  credit  facilities. The 
Group  manages  liquidity  risk  by  maintaining  sufficient 
bank balances to fund its operations and the availability 
of funding through committed credit facilities.

Management  monitors  rolling  forecasts  of  the  Group’s 
liquidity reserve on the basis of expected cash flows.

Undrawn  finance  facilities  as  of  31  December  were  as 
follows:

Undrawn Facilities

2023 
K’000

2022 
K’000

189,699

274,900

The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities 
which will be settled on a net basis into relevant maturity 
groupings based on the remaining period at the balance 
sheet date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts 
disclosed  in  the  table  are  the  contractual  undiscounted 
cash flows.

At 31 December 2023

Borrowings
Borrowings from minority shareholders
Borrowings from related parties
Trade and other payables
Lease liabilities

At 31 December 2022

Borrowings
Borrowings from minority shareholders
Borrowings from related parties
Trade and other payables
Lease liabilities

Less than 
1 year 
K’000

Between 1 
& 2 years 
K’000

Between 2 
& 5 years 
K’000

Over 
5 years 
K’000

Total 
K’000

Carrying 
amount 
K’000

(46,682)

(85,385)

(325,120)

-

(457,187)

(418,196) 

(160)
(1,899)
(108,680)
(5,283)

(162,704)

(248,073)
(160)
(2,960)
(108,038)
(5,296)

(364,527)

-
-
-
(5,283)

-
-
-
(11,981)

-
-
-
(111,566)

(160)
(1,899)
(108,680)
(134,113)

(160)
(1,862)
(108,680)
(57,810)

(90,668)

(337,101) 

(111,566)

(702,039)

(586,708)

(990)
-
-
-
(5,296)

(6,286)

(20,814)
-
-
-
(12,125)

(32,939)

-
-
-
-
(115,725)

(115,725)

(269,877)
(160)
(2,960)
(108,038)
(138,442)

(519,477)

(260,022)
(160)
(2,902)
(108,038)
(59,912)

(431,034)

The Group does not hold derivative financial instruments.

 34  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

(d) Capital risk management

The  Group’s  objectives  when  managing  capital  are 
to  safeguard  the  Group’s  ability  to  continue  as  a  going 
concern in order to provide returns to shareholders and 
benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal 
capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In  order  to  maintain  or  adjust  the  capital  structure,  the 
Group  may  adjust  the  amount  of  dividends  paid  to 
shareholders,  return  capital  to  shareholders,  issue  new 
shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The  Group  monitors  capital  on  the  basis  of  the  gearing 
ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total 
capital.  Net  debt  is  calculated  as  external  borrowings 
and  unsecured  loans  less  cash  and  cash  equivalents. 
Net  debt  for  the  purposes  of  the  gearing  ratio  does  not 
include  lease  liabilities,  trade  and  other  payables  and 
provisions  for  other  liabilities  and  charges.  Total  capital 
is  calculated  as  capital  and  reserves  attributable  to  the 
Group’s shareholders plus net debt. The gearing ratios at 
each balance date were as follows:

Total external borrowing and 
unsecured loans
Less: Cash and cash 
equivalents

Net debt
Total equity

Total capital

Gearing ratio

2023 
K’000

2022 
K’000

420,218

263,084

28,804

53,436

391,414
1,069,623

209,648
1,044,069

1,461,037

1,253,717

27%

17%

The Group is subject to certain covenants related primarily 
to  its  external  borrowings.  Non-compliance  with  such 
covenants  may  result  in  negative  consequences  for  the 
Group including declaration of default. The Group was in 
compliance with covenants as at 31 December 2023 and 
31 December 2022, as well as during respective years.

(e)  Fair value estimation

IFRS  7  ”Financial  Instruments:  Disclosures”  requires 
disclosure  of  fair  value  measurements  by  level  of  the 
following fair value measurement hierarchy:

Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical 
assets or liabilities (level 1).

Inputs  other  than  quoted  prices  included  within  level  1 
that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly 
(that  is,  as  prices)  or  indirectly  (that  is,  derived  from 
prices) (level 2).

Inputs  for  the  asset  or  liability  that  are  not  based  on 
observable  market  data  (that  is,  unobservable  inputs) 
(level 3).

If  one  or  more  of  the  significant  inputs  is  not  based  on 
observable  market  data,  the  instrument  is  included  in 
level 3.

The  Group  does  not  hold  any  financial  assets  at  
fair value.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  35

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

3.    Operating results

(a) Revenue and other income comprises:

Revenue from contracts with customers
- Revenue from sale of goods
- Revenue from provision of services
Lease income
Dividend income

Total revenue

Other income (net)*

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

67,236
467,694
121,360
-

656,290

13,006

63,334
459,154
108,774
-

631,262

-
-
-
11,503

11,503

-

5,098 

-
-
-
1,032

1,032

2,036

* Other income includes royalties, management fees, gain on sale of assets and net proceeds from insurance claims.

The Group’s revenue from contracts with customers are recognised at a point in time and over time. Most of the revenue from 
the  provision  of  services  is  recognised  over  time,  while  revenue  from  sale  of  goods  is  recognised  at  a  point  in  time.  Further 
disaggregation of revenue by segment is provided in Note 24. 

The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) 
as of 31 December 2023 that relates to shipping and freight services which commenced in late 2023 and will be finalised within 
January 2024 is K1.3 million (2022: K2.8 million).

(b) Expenses comprise:

Cost of sales
Staff costs (Note 3c)
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of properties 
Impairment of vessels
Electricity and fuel
Insurance
Security cost
Motor vehicle expenses
Other operating expenses / (income) - net

Total operating expense

(c) Staff costs:

Wages and salaries
Retirement benefit contributions
Other benefits

132,979
174,530
104,529
-
-
46,889
10,054
13,125
33,861
74,574

590,541

146,622
5,776
22,132

174,530

125,177
137,037
95,279
25,842
767
51,869
7,405
13,017
29,669
64,239

550,301

114,375
5,175
17,487

137,037

Number of staff employed by the Group at year end:

Full-time

3,010

2,705

-
-
2,073
-
-
-
-
-
-
(381)

1,692

-
-
-

-

-

-
-
2,102
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,729

4,831

-
-
-

-

-

 36  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

3.    Operating results (continued)

(d) The operating profit before income tax is arrived at after charging and crediting the following specific items:

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

After charging:

Audit fees
Fees for non-audit services to Auditors
Bad and doubtful debts provided
Impairment of properties
Donations
After crediting:
Net proceeds from insurance claims
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
Bad and doubtful debts released

(e) Cost of financing – net:

Interest expense*
Interest income
Net finance costs

1,172
122
7,460
-
1,792

(11,292)
(1,714)
(38)

15,826
(14,174)
1,652

1,141
489
1,461
25,842
1,353

-
(534)
(968)

14,712
(13,537)
1,175

-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
(85)
(85)

-
-
-
-
-

-
-

 -
(85)
(85)

*The interest expense excludes capitalised interest which is KNil in 2023 (2022: KNil).

(f)   Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to shareholders by the average number of ordinary 
shares on issue during the year. There is no difference between the basic and diluted earnings per share.

Net profit attributable to shareholders
Average number of ordinary shares on issue (thousands)
Basic earnings per share (continuing and discontinued)
Basic earnings per share (continuing)
Basic earnings per share (discontinued)

Consolidated

2023

2022

58,144
31,008
187.5 toea
187.5 toea
-

57,985
31,008
187.0 toea
187.0 toea
-

4.    Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

(a) Investments are accounted for in accordance with the policy set out in Note 1(c) and relate to:

Investments in subsidiary companies (Note 21)
Investments in associates (Note 22)
Investments in joint ventures (Note 23)

(b) Share of after-tax profit in associates and joint ventures

Share of profit in associates 
Share of profit in joint ventures

-
5,464
40,031

45,495

121
7,165

7,286

-
5,593
39,865

45,458

249
6,039

6,288

55,252
-
-

55,252

-
-

-

51,752
-
-

51,752

-
-

-

Steamships Annual Report 2023  37

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

5.    Income tax

(a) Income tax expense / (credit)

Current tax 
Deferred tax 
Adjustments for current and deferred tax of prior periods
Utilisation of losses in tax return, Note 5(b) 

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

24,622
420
680
-
25,722

30,710
(6,549)
3,654
(1,182)
26,633

222
825
-
-
1,047

166
(979)
(2)
-
(815)

(b)  The  income  tax  in  the  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Income  is  determined  in  accordance  with  the  policy  set  out  in  
Note 1(f). The effective rate of tax charged differs from the statutory rate of 30% for the following reasons.

Prima facie tax on profit / (loss) before income tax 
Non-taxable income - dividends
Tax on non-deductible expenses
Tax losses utilised in current year – previously unrecognised
Income not assessable for tax
Adjustments for current and deferred tax of prior periods
Unrecognised deferred tax asset on tax losses

(c) The deferred tax (liabilities) / assets comprise:

Provisions
Lease liabilities
Prepayments and consumables 
Property, plant and equipment
Right-of-use assets

Deferred tax asset
Deferred tax liability

25,317
-
677
-
(2,186)
680
1,234

25,722

14,247
17,341
(14,342)
(31,427)
(9,278)

(23,459)

4,627
(28,086)
(23,459)

25,822
-
185
(1,182)
(1,846)
3,654
-

26,633

14,754
17,972
(11,800)
(33,158)
(10,127)

(22,359)

2,020
(24,379)
(22,359)

4,498
(3,451)
-
-
-
-
-

1,047

51
-
-
781
-

832

832
-
832

(503)
(310)
-
-
-
(2)
-

(815)

934
-
-
723
-

1,657

1,657
-
1,657

Beginning 
Balance

Charge to 
profit

Ending 
Balance

14,754
17,972
(11,800)
(33,158)
(10,127)

(22,359)

723
934

1,657

(507)
(631)
(2,542)
1,731
849

(1,100)

58
(883)

(825)

14,247 
17,341 
 (14,342)
(31,427)
(9,278)

(23,459)

781 
51

832

d) The gross movement on the deferred tax account is as follows:

Consolidated
Provisions and accruals
Lease liabilities
Prepayments and consumables
Property, plant and equipment
Right-of-use assets

Total

Parent Company

Property, plant and equipment
Loan receivable

Total

 38  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

5.    Income tax (continued)

(e) The movement in income tax (receivable) / payable is as follows:

At 1 January
Income tax provision
Prior year under/(over) provisions
Utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses - Note 
5(b) 
Utilisation of previously recognised tax losses
Utilisation of interests withholding tax
Others
Tax payments made

6.    Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and short-term deposits

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

(12,088)
24,622
-
-

-
(2,115)
913
(16,495)

(5,163)

(23,627)
30,710
2,000
(1,182)

(11,355)
(1,822)
(852)
(5,960)

(12,088)

(38)
222
(12)
-

-
-
-
(137)

35

(64)
166
15
-

-
(13)
(25)
(117)

(38)

Consolidated

2023

28,804
28,804

2022

 53,436
53,436

Parent Entity

2023

2022

-
-

-
-

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of cash and cash equivalents on the statements of 
financial position. Cash and short-term deposits are held with the banks resident in Papua New Guinea who have appropriate long 
term credit ratings.

7.    Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Trade receivables - related parties (Note 18)
Provision for impairment

Other receivables
Prepayments

Consolidated

2023

2022

86,390
37,828
(17,385)

106,833
64,201
13,692

184,726

73,373
42,192
(11,163)

104,402
28,772
14,446

147,620

Parent Entity

2023

-
45,296
-

45,296
-
2

45,298

2022

-
35,905
-

35,905
3
-

35,908

Steamships Annual Report 2023  39

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

7.    Trade and other receivables (continued)

(i)  Credit losses

As at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, loss allowance was determined as follows for trade receivables:

31 December 2023

Expected credit loss rate
Gross carrying amount - trade receivables

Loss allowance

31 December 2022

Current

More than 30 
days past due

More than 60 
days past due

More than 90 
days past due

Total

0.01%-0.07% 0.07%-10%
26,340

65,102

419

2,570

10%-25%
9,854

2,342

25%-75%
22,922

14%
124,218

12,054

17,385

Current

More than 30 
days past due

More than 60 
days past due

More than 90 
days past due

Total

Expected credit loss rate
Gross carrying amount - trade receivables

0.01%-0.05% 0.05%-0.15%
30,170

57,507 

0.15%-2%
9,812

2%-80%
18,076

9.95%
115,565 

Loss allowance

17

26

63

11,057 

11,163

Movement in the provision for impairment of trade receivables is as follows:

Opening balance
Impairments recognised during the year
Provision released
Write off

Total

Consolidated

2023

11,163
7,460
(38)
(1,200)

17,385

2022

12,736
1,461
(2,947)
(87)

11,163

Parent Entity

2023

2022

-
-
-
-

-

-
-
-
-

-

The  creation  and  release  of  the  provision  for  impaired  receivables  is  included  in  operating  expenses  in  the  statements  of 
comprehensive  income.  Amounts  charged  to  the  provision  account  are  generally  written  off  when  there  is  no  expectation  of 
recovering the balance outstanding.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of each class of receivable mentioned above. The Group 
does not hold any collateral as security in relation to these receivables.

(ii) Other receivables and prepayments

Other  receivables  generally  arise  from  transactions  outside  the  usual  operating  activities  of  the  Group.  These  mostly  include 
receivables for rental bonds, dividends from a joint venture and other tax receivables (such as GST receivables) and other non-
financial assets. These receivables are not interest bearing. Collateral is not normally obtained.

As at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, most of the Group’s other receivables are current and classified as Stage 1 for 
impairment provisioning purposes. The amount of other receivables overdue more than 30 days is not material, and the impairment 
provision based on expected loss model is immaterial.

Prepayments relate to advance payments for expenses not yet incurred.

8.    Inventories

Finished goods
Provision for obsolescence

Consolidated

2023

39,624
(144)

39,480

2022

28,607
(144)

28,463

Parent Entity

2023

2022

-
-

-

-
-

-

Inventories recognised as an expense during the year ended 31 December 2023 and included in cost of sales and cost of providing 
services amounted to K23.1 million (2022: K21.0 million).

 40  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

9.    Due from / (to) related companies

Non-Current
John Swire & Sons Limited
Colgate Palmolive (PNG) Limited
Huhu Rural LLG 
Pacific Rumana Limited
Harbourside Development Limited
Viva No. 31 Limited
Wonye No. 2 Limited
Wakang Inc.

Due to associates and joint ventures:
Stevedoring associates
Loans from subsidiaries

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

8,995
536
1,103
25,375
203,503
2,584
957
16
243,069

(1,862)
-

(1,862)

8,409
500
1,035
26,930
160,833
2,000
-
16
199,723

(2,902)
-

(2,902)

8,995
536
-
-
-
-
-
-
9,531

8,409
500
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,909

-
(93,982)

(93,982)

-
(63,152)

(63,152)

The loans to Harbourside Development Limited are secured and earn interest at 6.5% p.a. The loan to Pacific Rumana Limited is 
unsecured and earns interest at 8.5% p.a. The loan from stevedoring associates is unsecured and incurs interest at 2% p.a.

10.  Property, plant and equipment

Consolidated
2023
Cost 
Accumulated depreciation (including impairment losses)

Net book value

Opening value
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation 

Closing value

2022
Cost 
Accumulated depreciation (including impairment losses)

Net book value

Opening value
Additions
Disposals
Impairments
Depreciation 

Closing value

Property

Ships

Plant and 
Vehicles

Right-of-use 
assets

Total

570,926
(282,274)

288,652

305,522
4,590
(382)
(21,078)

288,652

539,613
(234,091)

305,522

332,662
2,274
(120)
(4,010)
(25,284)

305,522

406,495
(179,403)

227,092

139,910
120,012
(31)
(32,799)

227,092

295,993
(156,083)

139,910

108,415
58,883
(140)
(767)
(26,481)

139,910

437,174
(266,629)

170,545

104,456
94,681
(1,242)
(27,350)

170,545

347,635
(243,179)

104,456

84,940
43,164
(136)
-
(23,512)

104,456

42,912
(36,642)

6,270

8,667
495
-
(2,892)

6,270

42,417 
(33,750)

8,667

32,551
826
(142)
(21,832)
(2,736)

8,667

1,457,507
(764,948)

692,559

558,555
219,778
(1,655)
(84,119)

692,559

1,225,658
(667,103)

558,555

558,568
105,147
(538)
(26,609)
(78,013)

558,555

In the 31 December 2022 financial year, the Group committed to a plan to sell certain cargo vessels. These assets were classified as 
‘Assets held for sale’. The cargo vessels were sold in the 31 December 2023 financial year.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  41

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

10.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Parent Entity
2023
Cost 
Accumulated depreciation (including impairment losses)

Net book value

Opening value
Depreciation 

Closing value

2022
Cost 
Accumulated depreciation (including impairment losses)

Net book value

Opening value
Additions
Transfers
Depreciation 

Closing value

Property

Plant and 
Vehicles

Total

81,987
(60,353)

21,634

23,379
(1,745)

21,634

81,987
(58,608)

23,379

22,240
2,882
(6)
(1,737)

23,379

7,313
(5,952)

1,361

1,689
(328)

1,361

7,313
(5,624)

1,689

1,352
696
6
(365)

1,689

89,300
(66,305)

22,995

25,068
(2,073)

22,995

89,300
(64,232)

25,068

23,592
3,578
-
(2,102)

25,068

(a)  Assets in the course of construction

The carrying amounts of the assets disclosed above include the following expenditure recognised in relation to property, plant and 
equipment and investment properties which are in the course of construction:

Property
Ships and plant and vehicles

Total assets in the course of construction

Consolidated

2023

20,654
86,138

106,792

2022

34,103
6,812

40,915

Parent Entity

2023

2022

-
-

-

-
-

-

The cost of additions in 2023 did not include any capitalised borrowing costs (2022: KNil) in relation to qualifying assets. The Group 
used capitalisation rate of 4.14% (2022: 3.72%) p.a. to determine the amount of borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation.

(b) Impairment losses

There were no conditions that indicated impairment of property, plant and equipment as at 31 December 2023.

The property impairments as of 31 December 2022 comprised of:

• 

 K21.8 million impairment of the Cassowary Hotel right of use asset. The recoverable amount was determined based on value-in-
use calculations. The calculations use pre-tax cashflow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering 
a three-year period. Beyond the three-year period, revenue and cost growth was set at 4% for the remainder of the lease period. 
A discount rate of 13.5% was adopted.

• 

 K4.0 million impairment of a building reflecting earthquake damage to a building. The Group lodged a claim with its insurer in 
2022. The claim was finalised in 2023 and the Group received net insurance proceeds of K11.3 million (net of GST).

 42  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

10.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

(c)  Right-of-use assets

The recognised right-of-use assets relate to properties leased by the Group for its use (i.e. leased buildings). The movement of 
right-of-use assets classified under property, plant and equipment is provided below:

Opening net book amount
Lease agreements made during the year
Disposal
Depreciation
Impairment
Closing net book amount

At cost
Accumulated depreciation (including impairment losses)

2023 
K’000

8,667
495
-
(2,892)
-

6,270

42,912
(36,642)

6,270

2022 
K’000

32,551
826
(142)
(2,736)
(21,832)

8,667

42,417
(33,750)

8,667

11.   Investment properties

Investment properties represent the Group’s residential and commercial properties that are available for external lease rather than 
internal use. Properties used by the Group are shown in ‘Property’ within Note 10.

Cost 
Accumulated depreciation

Net book value

Opening value
Additions
Disposal
Depreciation
Closing value

(a)  Right-of-use assets

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

592,008
(210,634)

381,374

388,896
12,888
-
(20,410)
381,374

580,814
(191,918)

388,896

375,415
30,780
(33)
(17,266)
388,896

-
-

-

-
-
-
-
-

-
-

-

-
-
-
-
-

 The  recognised  right-of-use  assets  relate  state  land  leases  related  to  properties  owned  by  the  Group  (including  investment 
properties). The breakdown of right-of-use assets classified under investment properties is provided below:

Opening net book amount 
Terminated
Depreciation
Others
Closing net book amount

At cost
Accumulated depreciation

2023

2022

25,086
-
(432)
19

24,673

26,781
(2,108)

24,673

25,663
(142)
(435)
-

25,086

26,781
(1,695)

25,086

Steamships Annual Report 2023  43

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

11.   Investment properties (continued)

2023

2022

(b)  Amounts recognised in profit/loss for investment properties

Rental income
Repairs and maintenance attributable to rental properties under non-cancellable leases
Operating expenses directly attributable to rental properties under non-cancellable leases

121,360

(3,485)
(24,094)

108,774

(2,516)
(22,890)

(c)  Valuation basis

Properties include commercial and residential properties occupied by Group businesses together with commercial and residential 
investment properties which are available for external lease. An analysis of the carrying amount and estimated range of fair values 
for each category of property is shown below. Fair values have been estimated internally, based on market evidence of property 
values, supported by independent professional valuations from previous years, adjusted by observable market trends related to 
PNG residential and commercial properties, as well as land values, on an annual basis.

Included in properties are the following:

Investment properties
Other properties (Note 10)

Total

NBV

381,374
288,652

670,026

Valuation Range

Lower

Higher

1,406,240
454,171

1,860,411

1,757,799
567,713

2,325,512

The management has utilised certain historical facts and available relevant market data in reaching their opinion as to the valuation 
of the properties up to the date of valuation, including use of comparable sales and capitalisation rates.

(d)  Non-current assets pledged as security

Refer to Note 16 for information on non-current assets pledged as security by the Group.

(e)  Contractual receivables

Minimum  lease  receivables  under  non-cancellable  operating  leases  of  investment  properties  not  recognised  in  the  financial 
statements are receivable as follows:

Within one year
Later than one year but not later than five years
Later than five years

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

81,104
145,261
18,700

245,065

69,326
75,838
17,185

162,349

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

 44  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

12.  Intangible assets

Opening balance
Disposal of Subsidiary

Closing balance

Consolidated

2023

76,433
-

76,433

2022

76,433
-

76,433

Parent Entity

2023

2022

-
-

-

-
-

-

Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units (CGUs) identified according to operating segment. The goodwill balance 
of K76.4 million (2022: K76.4 million) is attributable to various business acquisitions in the logistics segments including Pacific Towing 
(K67.4  million)  and  New  Britain  Shipping  (K9 million).  The  recoverable  amount  of  a  CGU  is  determined  based  on  value-in-use 
calculations. These calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a 
three-year period. Growth beyond year three for the purpose of the impairment testing is set at 7% for New Britain Shipping and 
7% for Pacific Towing (2022: 5% for New Britain Shipping and 5% for Pacific Towing). A pre-tax discount rate of 14.9% per annum 
(2022: 13.4% per annum) has been used and reflects specific risks relating to the operating segment. The recoverable amount of the 
Pacific Towing CGU and New Britain Shipping CGU exceed their carrying amounts by K36.1 million (2022: K23.2 million) and K6.7 
million (2022: K9.1 million), respectively. Management believes that growth rate of revenue of 7% p.a. for Pacific Towing and New 
Britain Shipping is appropriate, as approved three-year financial budgets are based on conservative assumptions.

Management determined the budgeted gross margin based on past performance and its market expectations. If the revised growth 
rate beyond three years had been 1% lower than management’s estimates the Group would need to reduce the carrying value of 
goodwill of Pacific Towing by KNil and the carrying value goodwill of New Britain Shipping by KNil. The CGUs’ carrying amount 
would exceed the value in use at a growth rate lower than 5.4% p.a. for Pacific Towing and 5.3% p.a. for New Britain Shipping.

The discount rates used are pre-tax and reflect specific risks relating to the relevant CGUs. If the revised estimated pre-tax discount 
rate applied to the discounted cash flows of the Pacific Towing CGU and New Britain Shipping CGU had been 1% higher than 
management’s  estimates,  the  recoverable  amounts  of  goodwill  of  Pacific  Towing  and  New  Britain  Shipping  would  exceed  their 
carrying amounts by K15.6 million and K4.3 million, respectively. The CGUs’ carrying amount would be equal to value in use at a 
pre-tax discount rate of approximately 19.4% p.a. and 22.5% p.a. respectively.

13.  Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Trade payables - related parties (Note 18)
Accruals
Other payables

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

42,741
8,343
39,638
17,958

108,680

2022

2023

2022

32,979
6,323
51,520
17,216

108,038

-
-
-
-

-

-
-
1,677
-

1,677

All trade and other payables are due and payable within 12 months and are recorded at their fair value. 

14.  Lease liabilities

As disclosed in Note 10 and 11, the right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities are recognised in relation to the following types of 
assets: state land leases related to properties owned by the Group (including its investment properties) and properties (i.e. buildings 
leased by the Group for its use).

State land leases
Properties
Total lease liabilities

2023

25,868
31,942

57,810

2022

26,155
33,757

59,912

Total lease liabilities as of 31 December 2023 include current liabilities of K2.6 million (31 December 2022: K2.7 million) and non-
current liabilities of K55.2 million (31 December 2022: K57.2 million). 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  45

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

14.  Lease liabilities (continued)

Minimum lease payments:
Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years
Total
Less: Unexpired finance charges

Present value of lease liabilities:
Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years
Total

2023

2022

5,283
17,264
111,566

134,113
(76,303)

57,810

2,576
14,100
41,134

57,810

5,296
17,421
115,725

138,442
(78,530)

59,912

2,667
13,967
43,278

59,912

61,554
826
(218)
2,693
(4,943)

59,912

Interest on lease liabilities recognised in profit or loss by the Group amounts to K2.6 million (2022: K2.7 million). 

Movement in net lease liabilities as per below:

Opening
Lease agreements made during the year
Disposal during the year
Finance costs
Repayment

59,912
495
-
2,593
(5,190)

57,810

The weighted average lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the lease liabilities on 31 December 2022 and 31 December 
2023 was 4.5% p.a. Management assessed that weighted average interest rate on borrowings obtained from financial institutions 
during  2023  and  previous  years  approximates  incremental  borrowing  rate  at  the  date  of  initial  adoption  of  IFRS  16  and  at  31 
December 2023. For related management’s judgments refer to Note 1(z).

The  Group  recognised  expenses  relating  to  short-term  leases  and  expenses  relating  to  leases  of  low-value  assets  that  are  not 
short-term leases of K3.5 million and KNil for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: K5.3 million and KNil), respectively. These 
expenses are included in operating expenses. The Group’s leases have no variable payments.

15.  Provisions for other liabilities and charges

Opening value
Charged to profit and loss
Utilised/ reversal during year
Closing value

Current
Non-current

Employee

Insurance 
Claims

Others

15,695
9,091
(8,165)
16,621

5,430
11,191

16,621

516
571
(516)
571

571
-

571

-
121
-
121

121
-

121

2023 
Total

16,211
9,783
(8,681)
17,313

6,122
11,191

17,313

2022 
Total

58,167
4,255
(46,211)
16,211

5,635
10,576

16,211

A description of employee provisions is disclosed in Note 1(p). During the 2022 year, the disputed insurance claim was settled 
resulting in the utilisation / reversal of the associated provision and reinsurance receivable.

 46  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

16.  Borrowings

Current:
Bank overdrafts (secured)
Bank loans
Other loans (unsecured)

Non-current:
Bank loans (secured)

Total Borrowings

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

2,895
30,000
160

33,055

385,301

385,301

418,356

522
239,500
160

240,182

20,000

20,000

260,182

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

Mortgages over certain of the Group’s properties and a registered equitable charge over the remainder of the Group’s assets, 
undertakings and uncalled capital are held by the Group’s bankers as security for the bank overdrafts and secured loans.

Interest is paid on all loans at commercial rates at a discount to Indicator Lending Rates. The effective interest rate on bank facilities 
at the balance sheet date was 4.14% (2022: 3.92%). Bank overdrafts are interest-only with no agreed repayment schedule. Bank 
loans are secured loans with varying 1 to 3 year terms. The effective interest rate on other loans is 2% (2022: 2%).

The fair value of borrowings approximates their carrying amounts. Borrowing terms, margins and credit risk factors approximate 
currently obtainable levels for similar facilities.

17.   Issued capital

(a)  Issued and paid up capital 

Ordinary shares

(b)  Number of shares (000s)

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

24,200

24,200

24,200

24,200

Ordinary shares

31,008

31,008

31,008

31,008

In accordance with the Papua New Guinea Companies Act 1997 the shares have no par value.

The Company’s securities consist of ordinary shares which have equal participation and voting rights.

(c)  Dividends

The Directors advised that a dividend of 60 toea per share will be paid immediately after the Annual General Meeting on 13th 
June 2024. Dividends payable to shareholders resident outside of Papua New Guinea will be converted to Australian Dollars at 
the prevailing rate which the Company is able to secure. During the year, the Company paid dividends totalling 105 toea per share 
which relate to the final dividend of 2022 at 70t per share amounting to K21.71 million, and interim dividend for 2023 financial year 
of K10.85 million at 35t per share.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  47

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

18.  Related party disclosures
18.  Related party disclosures

(a)  Loss of control:

On  21st  September  2023,  the  Board  of  Wonye  No.  2  Limited  has  approved  the  issuance  of  3.5  million  ordinary  shares  each 
to  Steamships  Trading  Company  Limited  and  Tininga  Limited,  respectively.  As  a  result  of  the  subscription,  Steamships  Trading 
Company Limited no longer has effective control. Wonye No. 2 Limited is now accounted for as a joint venture company. The loss 
of control did not result in a material gain or loss to the Group.

(b)  Interest in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures: 

These are set out in Notes 21, 22 and 23 respectively.

(c)  Remuneration: 

Income received or due and receivable both by Directors and general managers in connection with the management of the Group 
companies is shown in the Directors’ Report.

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

Key management personnel disclosure

Wages and salaries
Other short-term benefits

(d)  Material transactions:

Sales of goods and services 
- Associates and joint ventures 
- Key management 
- Associated groups 
- Other shareholders

Lease and rental income  
- Associates and joint ventures 
- Associated groups 
- Other shareholders

Dividends received / receivable 
- Associates and joint ventures

Management fee received 
- Associates and joint ventures 
- Associated groups 
- Other shareholders

Interest received / receivable 
- Associates and joint ventures

Royalties received 
- Associates and joint ventures

Shipping and towage services 
- Associates and joint venture 
- Associated groups

Cartage and storage services 
- Associates and joint ventures 
- Associated groups

Purchase of goods and services  
- Associates and joint ventures 
- Associated groups 
- Key management

 48  Steamships Annual Report 2023

18,744
1,177

14,651
932

4,636 
1,751 
7,074 
-

- 
473 
-

277 
158 
7,700 
313

- 
2,503 
-

10,654

197

1,229 
- 
-

3,436 
- 
377

13,926

12,368

-
-

- 
- 
- 
-

- 
- 
-

-

- 
- 
-

-

-
-

-

-

-

- 
- 

-

- 
- 
-

-

2,154

2,036

2,154

2,036

- 
50,308

- 
3,797

(248) 
(4,383) 
(7)

- 
44,867

- 
7,348

- 
(341) 
-

- 
-

- 
-

- 
- 
-

- 
-

- 
-

- 
- 
-

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

18.  Related party disclosures (continued)

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

Management fees and recharges  
- Associated groups

Purchase of assets 
- Associated groups

Dividends paid  
- Other shareholders (minority interest) 
- Controlling shareholder 
- Significant shareholders

Loans to/(from) related companies 
- Associates and joint ventures

(10,244)

(12,072)

-

(13,348)

(554) 
(23,481) 
(9,078)

(642) 
(25,717) 
(9,942)

41,183

35,580

All transactions with related parties are made on normal commercial terms and conditions.

Balances with related companies:
Stevedoring associates (Note 9)
Basiloc Limited (Note 16)

Due from related Companies:
Colgate Palmolive (PNG) Limited
Harbourside Development Limited
Pacific Rumana Limited
Huhu Rural LLG
Viva No. 31 Limited
Wonye No. 2 Limited
Wakang Inc.
John Swire & Sons Limited
Total due from related companies (Note 9)

Balances receivable / (payable) from / (to) related companies:
Receivables
John Swire & Sons Limited
Colgate Palmolive (PNG) Limited
Harbourside Development Limited
Wonye Limited
Swire Shipping Pte Ltd
Makerio Stevedoring Ltd
Nikana Stevedoring Ltd
Total trade receivables from related companies (Note 7)

Payables
John Swire & Sons Limited
Swire Shipping Pte Ltd
Total trade payables from related companies (Note 13)

(1,862)
(160)

(2,902)
(160)

536
203,503
25,375
1,103
2,584
957
16
8,995
243,069

36,228
1,068
-
-
-
131
401
37,828

(8,343)
-
(8,343)

500
160,833
26,930
1,035
2,000
-
16
8,409
199,723

33,870
2,035
908
429
4,950
-
-
42,192

 (6,064)
(259)
(6,323)

-

-

-

-

-

-

(23,481) 
(9,078)

(25,717) 
(9,942

-

-
-

536
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,995
9,531

36,228
9,068
-
-
-
-
-
45,296

-
-
-

-

-
-

500
-
-
-
-

-
8,409
8,909

33,870
2,035
-
-
-
-
-
35,905

-
-
-

Steamships Annual Report 2023  49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

19.  Reconciliation of cashflows 

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

(a)  Cash generated from operations

Profit / (Loss) from continuing operations after tax
Depreciation and impairment
Dividend and interest income
Net gain / (loss) on sale of fixed assets
Impairment of properties and vessel
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures
Adjustment on dividend
Lease disposals
Loan written off
Change in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) / decrease in trade debtors and other receivables
Increase in inventory
(Increase) / decrease in deferred tax assets
Decrease in operating assets
Increase in trade creditors and other payables
Increase / (decrease) in other operating liabilities
Decrease in income tax receivable
Increase in deferred tax liabilities

Net cash from operating activities

(b)  Net debt reconciliation

Net debt as at 1 January 2022
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments
Lease agreements made during the year
Disposal during the year
Finance costs
Payment of lease liabilities

Net debt as at 31 December 2022
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments
Lease agreements made during the year
Finance costs
Payment of lease liabilities

Net debt as at 31 December 2023

20.  Retirement benefit plans

58,667
104,529
(11,775)
(1,714)
-
(7,286)
-
-
-

(37,106)
(11,018)
(2,607)
-
642
596
6,925
3,706

103,559

Lease 
Liabilities

(61,554)
-
-
(826)
218
(2,693)
4,943

(59,912)
-
-
(495)
(2,593)
5,190

(57,810)

59,441
95,279
-
(534)
26,609
(6,288)
(173)
(103)
777

29,017
(5,454)
551
-
9,989
(43,040)
11,539
5,909

183,519

Bank 
Loans

(260,584)
(30,000)
30,000
-
-
1,084
-

(259,500)
(185,000)
30,000
-
(801)
-

(415,301)

13,947
2,073
(11,503)
-
-
-
-
-
-

(1,388)
-
825
-
-
(1,677)
72
-

2,349

Other 
Loans

(2,947)
(115)
-
-
-
-
-

(3,062)
-
1,040
-
-
-

(2,022)

(863)
2,102
(1,032)
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
(996)
3,606
-
1,677
26
-

4,520

Total

(325,085)
(30,115)
30,000
(826)
218
(1,609)
4,943

(322,474)
(185,000)
31,040
(495)
(3,394)
5,190

(475,133)

The total cost of retirement benefits of the Group in 2023 was K5.7 million (2022: K5.2 million). The Group participates in the 
National Superannuation Fund of Papua New Guinea, a multi-employer defined contribution fund, on behalf of all citizen employees 
with minimum employer and employee contribution rates established by legislation.

The parent entity does not employ staff directly; consequently, there was no charge during the year.

 50  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

21.  Subsidiaries and transactions with non-controlling interests

Significant investments in subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiaries in accordance with 
the accounting policy described in Note 1(c):

Name of Entity

Country of Incorporation

Class of Shares

Equity Holdings(1) 
2023

Equity Holdings(1) 
2022

Steamships Limited

Croesus Limited

Oro Stevedoring Limited

Kiunga Stevedoring Company Limited

Windward Apartments Limited

Pacific Towing SI Limited

Kavieng Port Services Limited
New Britain Shipping Limited(2)

United Stevedoring Limited
Morobe Terminals Limited(3)
Lae Port Services Limited(3)
Port Services PNG Limited(3)

Madang Port Services Limited

Motukea United Limited

Palm Stevedoring & Transport Limited
Sandaun Agency & Stevedoring Limited(4)
Gazelle Port Services Limited(5)
Portside Business Park Limited(6)
Wonye No. 2 Limited(7)
Gulf Maritime Services Limited(8)

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

100

100

100

100

100

100

60

50

70

50.5

51.5

54

60

64.1

66.7

100

100

100

50

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

60

50

70

50.5

51.5

54

60

64.1

66.7

100

100

100

100

-

(1)   The portion of ownership is equal to the proportion of voting power held.

(2)   Consolidated  by  virtue  of  control  over  the  operating  decisions  and  returns.  As  at  31  December  2023,  Steamships  Trading 

Company Limited still has control over this entity.

(3)   Morobe Terminals Limited, Lae Port Services Limited and Port Services PNG Limited are in liquidation.

(4)   Incorporated since 9 March 2012 and is 100% owned by Steamships Limited. This Company is operating as an agency of Consort. 

JV Port Services assumed the control of the management in 2022 with its 3-year Stevedoring license validity.

(5)  Incorporated on 21 July 2021 and is domiciled in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. The company is still under start-up phase.

(6)   Previously known as Motukea Industrial Park Limited, this company was incorporated on 30 April 2020 and is still under start-up 

phase.

(7)   Incorporated  on  8  October  2021  and  is  still  under  start-up  phase.  Wonye  No.  2  became  a  joint  venture  company  on  21 

September 2023. The loss of control did not result in a material gain or loss to the Group.

(8)  Incorporated on 9 May 2023 and is still non-operating.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  51

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

21.  Subsidiaries and transactions with non-controlling interests (continued)

Shares in subsidiary companies have been stated at cost or fair value on acquisition less dividends received from pre-acquisition 
profits. 

The summarised financial information of the Group’s largest subsidiaries with non-controlling interest as at 31 December 2023 and 
31 December 2022 is as follows:

2023

Madang Port Services Limited
New Britain Shipping Limited
Motukea United Limited
Kavieng Port Services Limited
United Stevedoring Limited

2022

Madang Port Services Limited
New Britain Shipping Limited
Motukea United Limited
Kavieng Port Services Limited
United Stevedoring Limited

22.  Investment in associates 

(a)  Movement in carrying amounts

Opening value
Share of profits before tax
Income tax expense
Dividends received
Adjustments

Closing value

Ownership 
Interest %

Assets

Liabilities

Carrying 
Value

Revenue

Profit /  
(loss)

60
50
64.1
60
70

60
50
64.1
60
70

6,352
21,338
2,767
3,818
2,451

5,974
19,996
2,810
4,552
3,308

824
2,979
1,064
555
1,343

975
1,297
1,129
868
2,307

5,528
18,359
1,703
3,263
1,108

4,999
18,699
1,681
3,684
1,001

5,712
10,387
8,916
4,765
16,487

5,654
12,668
9,344
5,813
17,687

658
(283)
261
142
107

294
1,397
502
598
117

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

5,593
173
(52)
(155)
(95)

5,464

5,541
366
(117)
(197)
-

5,593

-
-
-
-
-

-

-
-
-
-
-

-

The equity method is used to account for all interests in associates on a consolidated basis.

(b) Summarised financial information of equity accounted associates. 

The Group’s share of the results of its principal associates and its aggregated assets (including goodwill) and liabilities are as follows:

2023

Makerio Stevedoring Limited
Nikana Stevedoring Limited
Riback Stevedoring Limited

Ownership 
Interest %

Assets

Liabilities

Carrying 
Value

Revenue

Profit

45
45
49

2,008
3,277
2,501

7,786

654
1,624
44

2,322

1,354
1,653
2,457

5,464

1,938
2,201
-

4,139

19
102
-

121

 52  Steamships Annual Report 2023

 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

22.  Investment in associates (continued)

2022

Makerio Stevedoring Limited
Nikana Stevedoring Limited
Riback Stevedoring Limited

Ownership 
Interest %

Assets

Liabilities

Carrying 
Value

Revenue

Profit /  
(loss)

45
45
49

-

2,501
3,314
2,501

8,316

1,132
1,591
-

2,723

1,369
1,723
2,501

5,593

2,100
2,355
-

4,455

117
157
(25)

249

The associates provide stevedoring services to various external and Group shipping entities.

All associated companies are incorporated and operate in Papua New Guinea.

There are no contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interest in the associates.

23.  Investment in joint ventures

(a)  Movement in carrying amounts

Opening value
Additions during the year
Share of profits before tax
Income tax expense
Dividends received /receivable
Adjustments
Closing value

2023

39,865
3,500
10,370
(3,111)
(10,499)
(94)

40,031

2022

33,826
-
8,627
(2,521)
-
(67)

39,865

The interest in joint ventures is accounted for in the financial statements using the equity method of accounting.

(b) Information relating to the joint ventures is set out below.

2023

Colgate Palmolive (PNG) Limited
Harbourside Development Limited
Pacific Rumana Limited
Viva No. 31 Limited
Wonye Limited
Wonye No. 2 Limited

2022

Colgate Palmolive (PNG) Limited
Harbourside Development Limited
Pacific Rumana Limited
Viva No. 31 Limited
Wonye Limited

Ownership 
Interest 
%

Assets

Liabilities

Carrying 
Value

Revenue

Profit / 
(loss)

50
50
50
50
50
50

33,528
496,315
4,714
9,924
50,840
8,410
603,731

19,893
457,656
121
6,729
35,841
4,801
525,041

13,635
-
4,593
3,195
14,999
3,609
40,031

51,512
14,152
2,561
843
3,358
236
72,662

5,758
-
595
(135)
838
109
7,165

Ownership 
Interest 
%

Assets

Liabilities

Carrying 
Value

Revenue

Profit / 
(loss)

50
50
50
50
50

24,133
415,015
5,259
10,490
51,516
506,413

5,756
381,068
1,262
7,160
37,355
432,601

18,377
-
3,997
3,330
14,161
39,865 

34,545
10,706
2,180
84
3,258
50,773 

4,779
-
421
(98)
937
6,039 

Steamships Annual Report 2023  53

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

23.  Investment in joint ventures (continued)

The Group’s share of the capital commitments of joint ventures at 31 December 2023 is K26.0 million (2022: K37.0 million).

There are no contingent liabilities arising from the Group’s interests in the joint ventures.

24.  Segmental reporting

(a) Description of segments

The Board monitors the business from a product perspective and has identified three reportable segments. A brief description of 
each segment is outlined below:

• 

 Property and hospitality – consist of the hotels owned and operated by the Group and also its property leasing division. The 
assets are stated at historical cost net of accumulated depreciation and include new assets in the course of construction.

•  Logistics – consists of shipping and land-based freight transport and related services divisions.

•  Commercial and investments – consists of commercial, head office administration function and insurance activities.

(b)   Segment information 

The segment information provided to the Board for the reportable segments for the year ended 31 December 2023 is as follows:

2023
Total revenue and other income from continuing operations
Interest revenue
Interest expense
Segment results
Share of joint ventures and associates profit
Total tax (expense) / credit

Profit / (loss) from continuing operations

Segment assets
Segment liabilities

Net assets

Total assets include investments in joint ventures and associates
Capital expenditure
Depreciation

Property 
and 
Hospitality

Logistics

Commercial and 
Investments 
(and elimination)

Total

295,273
-
(2,593)
104,142
-
(31,243)

72,899

679,348
(68,787)

610,561

23,200
51,953
43,545

382,525
111
-
6,066
-
(1,820)

4,246

550,572
(332,162)

218,410

5,464
168,071
57,533

(8,502)
14,063
(13,233)
(33,105)
7,286
7,341

(18,478)

669,296
14,174
(15,826)
77,103
7,286
(25,722)

58,667

471,810
(231,158)

240,652

1,701,730
(632,107)

1,069,623

16,831
2,745
3,451

45,495
222,769
104,529

 54  Steamships Annual Report 2023

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina 000s unless otherwise stated)

24.  Segmental reporting (continued)

2022

Total revenue and other income from continuing operations
Interest revenue
Interest expense
Segment results
Share of joint ventures and associates profit
Total tax (expense) / credit

Profit / (loss) from continuing operations

Segment assets
Segment liabilities

Net assets

Total assets include investments in joint ventures and associates
Capital expenditure
Depreciation

Property 
and 
Hospitality

Logistics

Commercial and 
Investments 
(and elimination)

Total

248,595
705
2,185
54,537
-
(16,361)

38,176

696,098
(1,367)

694,731

21,488
33,453
44,237

380,337
199
(4,414)
41,612
-
(12,484)

29,128

423,173
(217,099)

206,074

5,593
94,517
47,669

2,330
12,633
(12,483)
(16,363)
6,288
2,212

(7,863)

631,262
13,537
(14,712)
79,786
6,288
(26,633)

59,441

396,422
(253,158)

1,515,693
(471,624)

143,264

1,044,069

18,377
1,182
3,373

45,458
129,152
95,279

These figures include non-controlling interests share of operating profits and assets.

Revenue from the hotels and property business mostly relates to the provision of services and is recognised over time. A minor 
portion represents revenue from the sale of goods and is recognised at a point in time. Similarly, revenue from the logistics business 
mostly relates to the provision of services and is recognised over time. Revenue from the commercial segment relates to sale of 
goods and is recognised at a point in time.

(c)  Geography

The Group operates almost wholly in Papua New Guinea. It is not practical to provide a segment analysis by geographical region 
within Papua New Guinea. The Group has two insignificant business operations in the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

25.  Contingent liabilities

There were contingent liabilities at the Balance Sheet date as follows:

(a)    Steamships Trading Company Limited holds a 50% interest in an associated company, Colgate-Palmolive (PNG) Limited, (“CP 
(PNG) Ltd”). In 2022 CP (PNG) Ltd received a notice from PNG Customs seeking to reassess the historic rate of import duty 
applied to a specific product, known as soap noodles, resulting in an additional duty of K11.1 million and an intention to apply the 
higher rate on future imports. CP (PNG) Ltd has disputed the interpretation of the product characteristics by PNG Customs 
and formally appealed against this higher assessed rate of duty. The appeal process remains in progress.

 To the extent that any of the additional duty is deemed payable by CP (PNG) Ltd following the appeal process, the Group’s 
share of profits from associates and the equity accounted investment in CP (PNG) Ltd will be reduced by 50% of the amount 
payable, net of any tax effect.

(b)  The parent entity has given a secured guarantee in respect of the bank overdrafts and loans of certain subsidiaries, associates 

and joint ventures.

(c)   The parent entity has given letters of comfort of continuing financial support in respect of certain subsidiaries, associates and 

joint ventures. 

No losses are anticipated in respect of these guarantees.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  55

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Amounts in Kina ‘000 unless otherwise stated)

26.  Commitments

(a)  Capital commitments

Contracts outstanding for capital expenditure:
- less than 12 months
- 1-5 years

27.   Subsequent events

Consolidated

Parent Entity

2023

2022

2023

2022

19,223
-
19,223

135
-
135

-
-
-

-
-
-

• 

• 

 On 10th January 2024, significant civil commotion across the country resulted in looting and arson of three of the Company’s 
properties  in  Port  Moresby.  The  Company  is  pursuing  an  insurance  claim  for  the  reinstatement  of  the  properties  and  for 
business interruption. Whilst the incident has had a devastating effect on many retail businesses in the country, the impact on 
the Company’s own operations and balance sheet is not significant.

 The Directors advised that a dividend of 60 toea per share will be paid immediately after the Annual General Meeting on 13th 
June 2024. Dividends payable to shareholder resident outside of Papua New Guinea will be converted to Australian Dollars at 
the prevailing rate which the Company is able to secure.

 56  Steamships Annual Report 2023

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Report on the audit of the financial statements of the Company and the Group

Our opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Steamships Trading Company Limited (the Company), which comprise the statements 
of financial position as at 31 December 2023, and the statements of comprehensive income, statements of changes in equity and 
statements of cash flows for the year then ended, and the notes to the financial statements which include a summary of significant 
accounting policies and other explanatory information for both the Company and the Group. The Group comprises the Company 
and the entities it controlled at 31 December 2023 or from time to time during the financial year.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements:

•   comply  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  other  generally  accepted  accounting  practice  in  Papua  New 

Guinea; and

•   give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Company and the Group as at 31 December 2023, and their financial 

performance and cash flows for the year then ended.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Our responsibilities under those standards 
are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Independence

We are independent of the Group in accordance with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ Code of Ethics 
for  Professional Accountants  (IESBA  Code),  and  we  have  fulfilled  our  other  ethical  responsibilities  in  accordance  with  these 
requirements. 

Our firm carries out other services for the Group in the areas of taxation and other non-audit services. The provision of these other 
services has not impaired our independence as auditor of the Company and the Group.

Our audit approach 

An audit is designed to provide reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. 
Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably 
be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the management structure of the Company and the Group, their accounting processes 
and controls and the industries in which they operate.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC Haus, Level 6, Harbour City, Konedobu, PO Box 484  
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 
T: +675 321 1500 / +675 305 3100, www.pwc.com/pg

Steamships Annual Report 2023  57

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Materiality

Audit Scope

Key audit matters

•   Amongst other relevant topics, 

we communicated the following 
key audit matter to the Audit 
and Risk Committee:

• 

 Goodwill impairment 
assessment

•   This matter is further described 
in the Key audit matter section 
of our report.

•   We (PwC Papua New Guinea) 
conducted audit work over the 
Group’s significant operations 
including the significant 
subsidiaries included in the 
Group consolidation sufficient 
to express an opinion on the 
financial statements as a whole. 

•   All subsidiaries of the Group at 
the year end are incorporated 
and operating in Papua New 
Guinea with the exception 
of one subsidiary which has 
operations in the Solomon 
Islands.

•   All significant associates of the 
Group are incorporated and 
operating in Papua New Guinea 
and audited by PwC Papua 
New Guinea.

•   Our audit focused on where 

the directors made subjective 
judgements; for example, 
significant accounting estimates 
involving assumptions and 
inherently uncertain future 
events.

•   For the purpose of our 

audit of the Group we used 
overall group materiality of 
approximately 5% of the 
Group’s profit before tax and 
net proceeds from insurance 
claim for the year ended 31 
December 2023.

•   We applied this threshold, 
together with qualitative 
considerations, to determine 
the scope of our audit and 
the nature, timing and extent 
of our audit procedures and 
to evaluate the effect of 
misstatements on the financial 
statements as a whole.

•   We chose Group profit before 
tax and net proceeds from 
insurance claim because, in 
our view, it is the metric against 
which the performance of 
the Group is most commonly 
measured and is a generally 
accepted benchmark.

•   We selected 5% based on our 
professional judgement noting 
that it is also within the range of 
commonly acceptable related 
thresholds.

 58  Steamships Annual Report 2023

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Key audit matter

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements for the current period. The key audit matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as 
a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

We have determined the matter described below to be a key matter to be communicated in our report. Further, commentary on 
the outcomes of the particular audit procedures is made in that context.

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key matter

Goodwill impairment assessment

(Refer to note 12 of the financial statements)

The  Group  has  goodwill  totalling  K76.4  million  at  31 
December  2023.  In  accordance  with  the  accounting 
policy in note 1(n) of the financial statements, the Group 
has assessed the goodwill balance for impairment at 31 
December 2023.

The Group has calculated the value of the respective cash 
generating units which the goodwill relates to based on 
financial  models  comprising  cash  flow  projections. The 
cash  flow  projections  use  a  number  of  forward  looking 
assumptions, including revenue and cost growth, and the 
value calculation is sensitive to these.

We  considered  this  a  key  audit  matter  because  of  the 
significant judgements around future revenues and costs, 
and  the  discount  rate  to  be  applied  in  determining  the 
recoverable amount of the cash generating units. 

We have considered and tested the financial models used 
by the Group to determine the values of the cash generating 
units. We compared the models with the previous year’s 
models  and  found  them  to  be  consistently  structured 
and consistent with the basis of preparation required by 
accounting standards. Together with our valuation expert 
we reviewed the financial models methodology used in 
determining  the  value  of  the  respective  cash  generating 
units.

We compared the forecast revenues and expenditures in 
the financial models to approved budgets and obtained 
an  understanding  of  the  Group’s  budgeting  procedures 
upon  which  forecasts  are  based. We  also  evaluated  the 
reliability  of  estimates  made  by  comparing  forecasts 
made in prior years to actual outcomes.

We  benchmarked  certain  assumptions  with  external 
forecasts,  and  the  discount  rates  with  our  expectation 
based  on  the  overall Weighted Average  Cost  of  Capital 
(WACC) of the Group. Together with our valuation expert 
we  reviewed  the  methodology  used  in  determining  the 
discount rate applied in the financial models.

We  performed  sensitivity  analysis  on  assumptions  to 
ascertain the extent of change that would be required in 
key assumptions for the respective goodwill balances to 
be  impaired. We  determined  that  the  calculations  were 
more sensitive to inflation assumptions and discount rates 
and focused our testing on these assumptions.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  59

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Information other than the financial statements and auditor’s report 

The directors are responsible for the annual report which includes other information. Our opinion on the financial statements 
does not cover the other information included in the annual report and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion on 
the other information.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the 
audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed on the other information that we 
obtained prior to the date of this auditor’s report, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we 
are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements

The directors are responsible, on behalf of the company for the preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view 
in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  other  generally  accepted  accounting  practice  in  Papua 
New Guinea and the Companies Act 1997 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the 
preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud 
or error .

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the ability of the Group to continue as a going 
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 
directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements, as a whole, are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the ISAs 
will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material 
if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the 
basis of the financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing, we exercise professional judgement and maintain 
professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

•   Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and 
perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a 
basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from 
error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

•   Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the 

circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control.

•   Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures 

made by the directors.

 60  Steamships Annual Report 2023

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued)

•   Conclude  on  the  appropriateness  of  the  directors’  use  of  the  going  concern  basis  of  accounting  and,  based  on  the  audit 
evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on 
the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw 
attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to 
modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However 
future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern.

•   Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the 

financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 

•   Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the 
Group to express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance 
of the Group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. 

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit 
and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We  also  provide  those  charged  with  governance  with  a  statement  that  we  have  complied  with  relevant  ethical  requirements 
regarding independence, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear 
on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance 
in the audit of the financial statements for the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. 

We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulations preclude public disclosure about the matter or when, 
in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse 
consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  61

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the Shareholders of Steamships Trading Company Limited

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

The Companies Act 1997 requires that in carrying out our audit we consider and report on the following matters. We confirm in 
relation to our audit of the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023:

•  We have obtained all the information and explanations that we have required;

•   In our opinion, proper accounting records have been kept by the Company as far as appears from an examination of those 

records.

Who we report to

This report is made solely to the Company’s shareholders, as a body, in accordance with the Companies Act 1997. Our audit work 
has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s shareholders those matters which we are required to state to them 
in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. We do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and 
the Company’s shareholders, as a body, for our audit work, for this report or for the opinions we have formed.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Jonathan Grasso 
Partner

Registered under the Accountants Act 1996 
Port Moresby 
28 March 2024

 62  Steamships Annual Report 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023

Steamships Trading Company Limited and Subsidiary Companies

The Directors submit their Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 for the Company and its subsidiaries.

Principal Activities and Review of Operations

Full details of the Group’s activities are given in the Directors’ Review on page 8. The Group continues to operate in the segments 
of Property and Hospitality, Logistics and Commercial and Investments.

The Directors believe that there will be no significant changes in the Group’s activities for the foreseeable future.

Changes in Accounting Policies

There are no changes in Accounting Policies in the year.

Results

The Group operating profit for the year attributable to shareholders was K58,144,000 (2022: K57,985,000).

Dividends

The Directors advise that a final dividend of 60 toea per share will be paid after the Annual General Meeting on 13th June 2024. 
Dividends payable to shareholders resident outside of Papua New Guinea will be converted to Australian Dollars at the prevailing 
rate which the Company is able to secure.

Rounding Off

Amounts in the Directors’ Report and accounts have been rounded off to the nearest thousand Kina.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  63

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023

Experience & Interests Register

Directors serving at the date of this report have disclosed the following experience and interests in shares in the Company and 
provided general disclosure of companies in which the Director is to be regarded as interested as set out below:

G.L. Cundle

Chairman since 2015 
Managing Director 2013 to 2015 
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee 
Member of the Strategic Planning Committee Director since 2013

Mr Cundle joined the Swire Group in 1979 and has extensive corporate experience having worked with the Group in various 
divisions in Hong Kong, Australia, Korea, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. He was a Non-Executive Director of Steamships 
in 2006-2007 and General Manager of Steamships Shipping & Transport from 1989-1992. He was the Managing Director of 
Steamships Trading Company Limited from 1st January 2013 to 12th January 2015. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer of John Swire and Sons (Australia) Pty Limited.

P. J. Aitsi MBE

Director from 1st July 2021 
Director 2014 to 2018

Peter Aitsi is a senior Papua New Guinean business leader with over 30 years of experience from having led and managed a 
number of PNG’s leading companies. Along with his corporate roles, Peter has a long-standing involvement with community 
organisations such as Transparency International PNG, Badili Club of PNG, and Kokoda Track Foundation. He continues to 
serve on several boards of both listed and unlisted companies; Steamships Trading Company, Chair of MiBank PNG, Chair of 
PNG Property Developers Association, Director of OilMin Holdings and Chair of media company PNGFM Ltd. He studied 
Banking and Finance at the PNG Institute of Banking and Finance in Port Moresby (now IBBM), he is a member of the 
Australian Institute of Directors and a member of the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) and was awarded the Male Director 
of the Year in 2018. In 2004 he was accorded a Queens award as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition for his 
contributions to the development of PNG media and his long-standing voluntary service to various community organisations.

R.P.N. Bray

Managing Director from 20th September 2020 
Member of the Strategic Planning Committee 
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee 
Director since 2018

Appointed Managing Director in 2020, Mr. Bray was Chief Operating Officer from 2018 until his appointment as Managing 
Director. Mr Bray was previously Marine Services Director of Singapore based Swire Pacific Offshore Pte Ltd. There, he was 
responsible for Swire Pacific Offshore’s subsea, renewables, logistics, seismic, salvage and oil spill divisions. He was formally 
Chief Operating Officer of Swire Oilfield Services and held various senior operational and commercial positions in Cathay 
Pacific Airways Ltd in his earlier career. He holds directorship of various Steamships Trading Company subsidiaries, joint 
ventures, and associated companies. He sits on a number of charitable advisory boards and PNG business groupings, including 
chairing anti-gender-based violence charity, Bel isi, The Salvation Army PNG, acting as the deputy chair industry body, PNG 
Property Developers Association, the United Nations Biodiversity & Climate Fund for PNG, and the Business Council’s Energy 
Working Group. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Bristol University (UK) and holds a Master of Marine Sciences 
from Nanyang Technical University (Singapore). He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds 
several IOSH Health & Safety qualifications.

 64  Steamships Annual Report 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023

L.M. Bromley

Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee since July 2021 
Member of the Strategic Planning Committee since July 2021 
Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee since July 2021 
Director since 2019

Ms Bromley has been a Senior Executive of the Bromley Group of Companies for over 12 years. She is currently a Director of 
the Bromley Group’s various commercial operating Companies some of which include Heli Niugini Ltd, Maps Tuna Ltd and 
Western Drilling Ltd in Papua New Guinea, PT Sayap Garuda Indah and PT Air Bali in Indonesia, Allway Logistics Limited 
and Merit Logistic Services Limited in Hong Kong, Aerolift (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. in Singapore and AAB Holdings Pty Ltd Group 
of Companies in Australia and is responsible for the aviation operation, logistic support and group- investment functions. 
She is the Managing Director of Merit Finance Limited which serves as the Bromley Group’s treasury arm. Ms Bromley also 
consults on the Bromley Group’s property development and property management Companies through advisory roles in Papua 
New Guinea and Australia. She is a Director of Viva No 31 Ltd, a Steamships Trading Company joint venture Company, and 
has previously held positions on the Divisional Boards of EastWest Transport and Steamships shipping. Ms Bromley holds a 
Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws.

D.H. Cox OL, OBE

Managing Director 2004 to 2012 
Member of the Audit and Risk Committee 
Member of the Strategic Planning Committee 
Director since 2003

Mr Cox joined Steamships as a Manager in 1992, rising to become Managing Director from 2004-2012. He has extensive 
experience in the Asia-Pacific business environment and holds an MBA in International Hospitality & BSc (Hons) in Accounting 
& Business Management.

C. Kasou

Appointed as Non-Executive Director on 1st March 2024

Christine began her career in private practice in 2001 as a commercial lawyer with Gadens Lawyers (now Dentons) in Port 
Moresby. In 2006, Christine joined Oil Search (PNG) Limited, now a subsidiary of Santos Limited. She has over 17 years of 
experience in Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas industry working extensively in the organization’s contracting and procurement 
functions, legal and compliance department, gas projects development and people and culture function. Christine has 
substantial experience in corporate governance and regulatory responsibilities within the jurisdiction and is currently the Senior 
Commercial Manager, PNG. Christine holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Steamships Annual Report 2023  65

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023

J.B. Rae-Smith

Director since 2019

Mr Rae-Smith is Chairman of Swire Energy Services, Swire Renewable Energy and United States Cold Storage, a Director 
and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee of Swire Shipping Co Pte Ltd and Swire Bulk Pte Ltd and Vice President of 
the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping. He joined the Swire Group in 1985 and has worked with the Group in Australia, 
Papua New Guinea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. He was a Director of 
Swire Pacific Limited, a company listed in Hong Kong, from January 2013 to August 2016 and was the Executive Director of 
the Marine Services Division from 2005 to 2016, the Trading & Industrial Division between 2008 and 2016 and Chairman of 
the Swire Group Charitable Trust. In addition, he has also been a Director of the Standard P&I Club, Deputy Chairman of the 
Hong Kong Ship Owners Association, Chairman of the Lloyds Asian Ship Owners Committee, and a Director of the Singapore 
Environmental Council.

M.R. Scantlebury

Finance Director & Company Secretary from June 2016 to September 2018 and from September 2020 to present 
Managing Director from September 2018 to September 2020

Mr Scantlebury is a chartered accountant and was previously Director of the Office for Financial Planning at Swire Pacific Ltd 
in Hong Kong and he has held various senior finance and commercial positions in the Swire group in his career. He holds 
Directorship of various Steamships Trading Company subsidiaries, joint ventures, and associated companies.

Lady W.T. Kamit CBE

Member of the Audit and Risk Committee 
Director since 2005, resigned on 15th June 2023

Lady Winifred Kamit is a senior partner at Dentons PNG. Lady Kamit is a Director of Bunowen Services Ltd, Kamchild Limited, 
Dentons Administration Services Ltd, Post Courier Limited and its subsidiaries and Brian Bell Group. Lady Kamit also serves on 
a number of non-government and charitable organisations, including Anglicare PNG Inc.

 66  Steamships Annual Report 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year ended 31 December 2023

Remuneration of Directors

Directors remuneration received or receivable from the Company as directors during the year, is as follows:

GL Cundle (Chairman)
LM Bromley
DH Cox
JB Rae Smith
PJ Aitsi
Lady WT Kamit
JH Woodrow

2023 
K’000

249
280
252
205
140
95
-
1,221

2022 
K’000

223
249
224
126
124
174
63
1,183

The directors fees vary in accordance with the required duties on various sub-committees of the board.

* Executive Directors receive no fees for their service as Directors during the year.

Remuneration of Employees

The number of employees whose remuneration and other benefits was within the specified bands are as follows:

Remuneration 
K’000

2023 
No.

2022 
No.

Remuneration 
K’000

2023 
No.

2022 
No.

100-110
110-120
120-130
130-140
140-150
150-160
160-170
170-180
180-190
190-200
200-210
210-220
220-230
230-240
240-250
250-270
270-280
280-290

18
8
9
7
11
7
5
5
4
3
5
2
1
3
3
12
3
4

11
4
9
7
5
6
6
1
4
2
5
2
3
3
3
4
5
1

290-300
300-310
310-340
340-360
360-370
370-380
380-390
390-400
400-500
500-600
600-700
710-800
810-900
910-1000
1,000-1,100
1,100-2,000
2,000-2,900
2,900-3,000

3
4
4
3
1
3
3
-
15
5
13
7
4
2
1
3
1
1

1
2
4
3
2
2
-
-
5
7
6
2
-
3
1
4
2
-

For and on behalf of the Board:

Port Moresby 
28 March 2024

G.L. Cundle 
Chairman

R.P.N. Bray 
Managing Director

Steamships Annual Report 2023  67

STOCK EXCHANGE INFORMATION

Steamships Trading Company Limited Year Ended 31 December 2023

Shares are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and the Port Moresby Stock Exchange. 
All shares carry equal voting rights.

Shareholdings

At 29 February 2024, there were 361 shareholders.

264  Holding 
65  Holding  
17  Holding 
11  Holding 
Holding 
4 

1 
1,001  
5,001  
10,001 
100,001  -  Over

-  1,000 units 
-  5,000 units 
-  10,000 units 
-  100,000 units 

The number of shareholders holding less than a marketable parcel was 33.

The 20 largest shareholders were:

Number of shares

JS&S (PNG) LIMITED

BERNE NO 132 NOMINEES PTY LTD <722124 A/C>

NATIONAL SUPERANNUATION FUND LIMITED

BERNE NO 132 NOMINEES PTY LTD <657243 A/C>

JOHN E GILL OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED

HYLEC INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED 

PRAFUL PATEL INVESTMENTS PTY LTD PRAFUL & ANITA PATEL S/ A/C

BOND STREET CUSTODIANS LIMITED 

MR RAMESH MAHTANI

CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED

BUDLEAF PTY LTD 

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 

INTERCONTINENTAL ASSETS PTY LIMITED

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

MRS LUCY ANN KING

MS JENNIFER MAY FORBES

BNPP NOMS PTY LTD HUB24 CUSTODIAL SERV LTD

CUSTODIAL SERVICES LIMITED 

MRS JUDITH SCOTTHOLLAND
MRS MARY PATRICIA HAUGHTON

22,362,651

5,760,000

1,859,446

446,494

54,727

32,500

23,082

23,067

21,700

20,240

19,659

19,562

15,000

10,767

10,348

10,000

9,568

8,768

8,161
8,161

%

72.12

18.58

6.00

1.44

0.18

0.10

0.07

0.07

0.07

0.07

0.06

0.06

0.05

0.03

0.03

0.03

0.03

0.03

0.03
0.03

30,723,901

99.08

Applicable Legislation

The Company is incorporated in Papua New Guinea and is not generally subject to Australian Corporations Law including, in 
particular, Chapter 6 of the Australian Corporations Law dealing with the acquisition of shares (including substantial shareholdings 
and  takeovers). The  Company  is  subject  to  the  requirements  of  the  Papua  New  Guinea  Companies Act  1997,  Securities Act 
1997 and the Takeovers Code. The Companies Act and the Securities Act regulate the issue and buy-back of shares and contain 
provisions as to the trading in securities, provisions as to financial benefits to related parties, substantial shareholders provisions, 
remedies in cases of oppression or injustice and actions by, and access to, records by shareholders.

The Takeovers Code regulates offers where a person already holds more than 20% of the voting rights in a company or where a 
person becomes the holder of more than 20% of the voting rights in a manner permitted by the Code.

A code offer, which can either be a full offer or a partial offer, must be extended to all holders of voting securities in the Company.  
The Code also contains compulsory purchase and sale provisions if more than 90% of the shares are acquired under an offer.

 68  Steamships Annual Report 2023

 
Steamships Annual Report 

COMPANY DIRECTORY

CHAIRMAN
G. L. Cundle §&

MANAGING DIRECTOR
R. P. N. Bray §&

FINANCE DIRECTOR
M. R. Scantlebury

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 
P. J. Aitsi MBE  
L. M. Bromley +§& 
D. Cox OL, OBE +& 
J. B. Rae Smith 
C. Kasou

+  Member of the Audit and Risk Committee 
§  Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee 
&  Member of the Strategic Planning Committee

SECRETARY
M. R. Scantlebury

REGISTERED OFFICE
Level 2, @345, Stanley Esplanade 
Section 20, Allotments 3, 4, and 5 
Granville, Port Moresby, National Capital District 
Papua New Guinea

Telephone:  +675 313 7400 / 79987000

P. O. Box 1 
Port Moresby, National Capital District, 121 
Papua New Guinea

AUDITORS
PricewaterhouseCoopers 
P. O. Box 484 
Port Moresby, NCD 
Papua New Guinea

SHARE REGISTRARS
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited 
GPO Box 2975 
Melbourne VIC 3001 
Australia

Telephone: 

 (Aus) 1300 85 05 05 
(Overseas) +61 (0)3 9415 4000

Fax: 

+61 3 9473 2500

STOCK EXCHANGE
Shares are listed on both the PNGX Markets Limited and the 
Australian Securities Exchange Limited

A. R. B. N. 
055 836 952

Level 2, @345, Stanley Esplanade, Section 20, Allotments 3, 4 and 5 
Granville, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

P.O. Box 1, Port Moresby, National Capital District, 121, Papua New Guinea 
P: +675 313 7400 / 79987000

www.steamships.com.pg