Steamships Trading Company (Steamships) and Laba Holdings Limited (Laba) are pleased to announce the formal establishment of Hebamo Transport Limited (HTL), a dedicated landside logistics company specialising in project cargo and heavy transport.
This milestone follows 14 months of collaboration since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two partners at the 2023 Sydney Investment Conference, culminating in the execution of the Shareholders Agreement. The joint venture, structured as a 51%-49% partnership with Laba holding the majority stake, is now operational and positioned to play a key role in the downstream construction phase of the Papua LNG Project.
Hebamo Transport Limited was formed to provide specialised transport solutions for major resource projects, ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective movement of materials and equipment. With the Papua LNG Project entering its critical construction phase, the demand for reliable logistics services has never been greater. Hebamo is uniquely positioned to meet this demand by combining Steamships’ industry-leading expertise and infrastructure with Laba’s deep-rooted landowner participation and local knowledge.
Chief Executive Officer of Laba Holdings, Isikeli Taureka, expressed confidence in the venture, stating: “It has taken over a year of dedicated planning and partnership to bring Hebamo Transport Limited to life, and we are proud to see it officially operational. This joint venture is a testament to our commitment to ensuring landowner participation in the economic opportunities of the downstream component of the Papua LNG project at Papa Lealea. It is not just about business—it is about creating sustainable benefits, employment, and skills development for our people - project impacted landowners.”
Steamships General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Vele Rupa affirms: “We are excited to formalise our partnership with Laba through Hebamo Transport Limited. Steamships has a long history of delivering best-in-class logistics solutions in PNG, and this venture strengthens our ability to support large-scale infrastructure projects like Papua LNG Project. Our shared goal is to ensure efficiency, reliability, and local content development in the project’s supply chain.”
With Hebamo Transport Limited now operational, the company is ready to mobilise project cargo and heavy transport services, supporting not only Papua LNG but also future major infrastructure projects across Papua New Guinea. The joint venture represents a new benchmark for industry-landowner collaboration, setting the foundation for long-term economic growth and local business development.
