Three Carnival Australia ships chartered to support the APEC Summit saluted host nation Papua New Guinea in style as the first of the ships sailed from Port Moresby.

P&O Cruises’ flagship Pacific Explorer and Pacific Jewel and Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess each sounded their horns seven times to achieve the equivalent of a 21-gun salute that echoed across the city and beyond as the Sea Princess departed port, Carnival said, in a statement. 

Captain Tony Ruggero on Sea Princess, Captain Roger Bilton on Pacific Explorer and Captain Alan Nixon on Pacific Jewel were behind the whistles.

The three ships were on charter for the APEC conference, providing accommodation for Pacific leaders, delegates and international media along with providing conferencing facilities.

The Pacific Explorer was the venue for the high profile APEC CEO Summit which was addressed by national leaders including President Xi Jinping of China, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“The successful hosting of APEC 2018 was a truly defining event for Papua New Guinea, which it is hoped will leave a legacy of economic growth for its people especially the young for whom this will be crucial,” said Carnival Australia Chairman Ann Sherry.

“Carnival Australia and our P&O and Princess ships were proud to play a part in PNG and Port Moresby’s success in hosting an event that put PNG in the international spotlight.”

The Pacific Explorer will depart from Port Moresby on Tuesday and the Pacific Jewel sails on Wednesday.