Maritime Review

China Maritime Week 2012: The Nautical Institute – Hong Kong Branch Seminar

Posted on January 16, 2012 by jay  |   No Comments

The Hong Kong branch of the Nautical Institute will be holding an afternoon seminar during China Maritime Week on March 1 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The topic of the seminar is ‘Challenges of Electronic Navigation’, and the event will address the most significant paradigm shift in navigation in recent times. An excellent line-up of speakers has already been confirmed.

• Hydrographers’ and Chart Distributors’ Perspective

Mr George Arts, President, Marine Press of Canada

Appointed as technical advisor to the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), Mr Arts has also been nominated to attend International Hydrographic Offices (IHO) meetings on matters related to electronic chart production, distribution and updating. Marine Press operates the Digitrace remote updating and licence service, with 4,800 vessels subscribing.

• Effective use of Electronic Navigation Charts

Captain Sriram Rajagopal, Training & QHSE Superintendent, Anglo Eastern Group

An ECDIS trainer since 2007, Captain Rajagopal has presented papers at various international forums regarding ECDIS and electronic charts, including the 2009 International ECDIS conference (UKHO – IHO) and ECDIS faculty interaction in Baltimore in 2010.

• Understanding ECDIS Hardware

Captain Bhupesh Gandhi, Director – Asia Pacific, MARIS

A Master Mariner, Captain Gandhi obtained his MBA degree from the University of Southern New Hampshire. Having served as vice-president – marketing for Asia Pacific with Transas Marine Pacific, he decided to join MARIS in August 2006. Heading their Asia Pacific expansion, he has responsibility for business strategy, organisational development and the sales and marketing of MARIS products and services throughout the region.

• (Re) Training the Navigators

Mr Nigel D Cleave, Chief Executive Officer of Videotel Marine International

Videotel is the world’s largest multi-media producer and leading provider of high-quality maritime safety training software and materials. Mr Cleave has overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business as well as guiding future strategic development of the company’s worldwide marine training services and activities.

For more information, contact the Nautical Institute – Hong Kong Branch, at secretary@nautinsthk.com or tejbirk@angloeasterngroup.com.

About China Maritime Week

Following highly successful events in 2006, 2008 and 2010, China Maritime will return for a fourth time to Hong Kong in 2012, from Tuesday, February 28 to Thursday, March 1. Alongside an extensive exhibition, the event will offer a series of social events facilitating unrivalled networking possibilities.

For further information please contact:

 

The Nautical Institute
PH: +852 9768 2264
FX +852 2285 9309
Email: secretary@nautinsthk.com
Web: www.nautinsthk.com

 

Baird Events
PH: +61 3 9824 6055
FX: +61 3 9824 6588
Email: marinfo@baird.com.au
Web: www.bairdmaritime.com

DOTC bares P5 billion infrastructure plan

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

Department of Transportation and Communications secretary Man­uel Roxas II has unveiled a 5-year P565 billion infrastructure plan including the continuation of the controversial North Rail project.

Speaking before a briefing organized by the Makati Business Club recently, Roxas said the project is aimed at providing reliable, safe, and affordable public transportation sys­tem nationwide.

The projects, meanwhile, include the 11.7 km LRT 1 Baclaran to Cavite and the LRT 2 Santolan, Pasig to Masinag, Antipolo ex­tension rail projects; the re-configured North Rail project; the establishment of internation­al airports in Puerto Princesa, Laguindigan, Misamis Oriental and Panglao, Bohol; the de­velopment of ports in Davao, and the roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) projects linking China with either the Subic and Batangas ports. read more

Seafarer communications lacking at ports–report

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

The International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) has pub­lished a report on seafarer access to communications technology in port, which it claims is “taking a back seat because of high investment costs and ports’ concerns about security.”

The Developments in New Technology & Implications for Seafarers’ Welfare report was commissioned by ICSW in order to learn more about how port-wide Wi-Fi and WiMAX services are helping seafar­ers to maintain closer contact with home.

A survey found that 32 per cent of respondents had port-wide Wi-Fi and 10 per cent had port-wide WiMAX. Wi-Fi typically offers a maximum range of 50m indoors and 100m outdoors while WiMAX provides wireless reception over greater distances. read more

US Megaport Initiative to be expanded to Cebu

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

The United States government is set to provide more nuclear and radiation detection equipment to the Philippine government to be deployed to ports in Manila and Cebu by next year.

According to Kim Prono, a representative of the US Department of Energy, the move is meant to increase security measures at the coun­try’s major ports, to prevent nuclear proliferation and combat nuclear smuggling.

Prono said that the additional equipment will be deployed to the major port facilities operated by the Cebu Ports Authority and also to the berth 6 of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), which is still under construction. read more

Hanjin to expand Subic yard

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   30 Comments

Philippines largest shipyard operator Hanjin Heavy Industries-Philippines (HHIP) has reserved an additional 150 hectares of land for the expansion of its Subic yard in its bid to handle swelling orders for new buildings as well as other projects.

The expansion, which has an estimated investment cost of about $1 billion, is being geared towards the platform for the new Malampaya exploration project.

It is also designed to accommodate additional new building orders after the order books for new buildings became very active again in the early part of this year. read more

Magsaysay Maritime bags Lloyd’s List Global 2011 Training Award

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

Magsaysay Maritime Corporation was awarded the Training Award at the Lloyd’s List Global Awards 2011 held at the London Hilton Park Lane

Hotel on September 20.

The Lloyd’s List Global Awards is one of the most acclaimed recog­nition for achievements made by members of the maritime industry covering Port Operator, Ship Operator, Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea, Safety, Training, Environment, Maritime Lawyer of the Year, Corpo­rate Social Responsibility, Ship Financier, Innovation, Seafarer of the Year, Company of the Year, Newsmaker of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over 500 personalities from the global maritime industry attended the awards night dinner. read more

Stakeholders presses government to ratify the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

Stakeholders in the maritime industry has again called on the Philippine government to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC 2006) in order that it will be one of the thirty ratifying countries re­quired for the convention to take effect.

The campaign for the early ratification MLC2006 is the focus of this year’s celebration of the 16th National Seafarers’ Day and the 3rd Na­tional Maritime Week.

Under Proclamation No.1049 issued in 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos, the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in activities related to the National Seafarers’ Day during the last Sunday of September every year. This year’s 16th National Seafarers’ Day celebration fell on September 25, 2011with the theme “Marinong Pilipino: Lakas ng Pagkakaisa!” It embodies the unified attitude of the Filipino Seafarers’ ideals, morals and cause.

read more

New program set to assist seafarers and families affected by piracy

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   18 Comments

A new program set to help seafarers and their families cope with the physical and mental trauma caused by torture and abuse at the hands of pirates is being launched in London, UK today.

The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP), funded by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and The TK Foundation, is chaired by Peter Swift, formerly managing director of shipping industry body INTER­TANKO. The programme speaks for an alli­ance of ship-owners, trade unions, managers, manning agents, insurers and welfare asso­ciations representing the entire shipping in­dustry, from crews to owners.

It aims to help seafarers who have been or may be subject to pirate attack. Pirates now regularly treat hostage seafarers with extreme violence to pressurise families and employers to expedite their ransom demands. This can include phoning family members and forcing the seafarer to plead for their life while they are being abused and threatened with death, and filming and posting this online for rela­tives to see. read more

OSG and CTSI Clean Up Capipisa Coast

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

September 17 was International Coastal Clean Up Day and OSG Ship Management Manila Inc. and Consolidated Training Systems Inc. (CTSI) joined forces to clean up a portion of the Capipisa coastline near CTSI’s Cavite training facility. Every year OSG plans an annual coastal cleanup under the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) program of Ocean Conservancy International which aims to start a sea of change helping to educate public, business and government officials about the scale and serious consequences of the global marine debris problem. The com­panies used biodegradable sacks, provided by OSG, to contain the waste. Some of the debris gathered were rubber slippers, cans, plastic waste and the like. OSG and CTSI hope that other businesses will also follow suit and create their own “sea of change” no matter how small. Photo shows (1st row: 3rd person on right side) OSG’s Managing Director Eduard Tkalcic, (4th person on right side) CTSI’s GM Raffy Joaquin , (1st person on left side) is CTSI’s CEO Eppie Joaquin.

The Philippine Ports Authority forges MOA with Lyceum of the Philippines University 20

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   50 Comments

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), in its desire to enhance and strengthen its manpower competencies and capabilities through the provision of relevant graduate studies, recently forged a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with the Lyceum of the Philippine University (LPU) through its Claro M. Recto Academy of Advanced Studies. PPA General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana (2nd, L-R)shake hands with Atty. Roberto P Laurel (3rd, L-R) President of LPU after signing the above mentioned MOA. PPA AGM Atty. David R. Simon (left) and LPU Vice President Dr. Conrado E. Iñego, Jr witnessed the said event. With the signing of the said MOA, the PPA and the LPU agree to jointly plan, implement and collaborate in offering graduate programs in public and/or business administration to PPA employees.

IMO Aggressive to Implement Stricter Emission Norms

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a strong direc­tive to reduce the quantity of sulphur and nitrogen oxide used in fuel for tanker vessels. This directive comes after observation of the steady and continuous rise in the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in the regularly used oceanic routes of the Caribbean and the Baltic Sea.

These norms are expected to be laid on those ships with GWT (Gross Weight Tonnage) of 400 tonnes and above.

At present, the prescribed limit for sulphur oxide is 4.5% which, following the applicability of the directive starting from January 2012, is required to be curtailed to about 3.5%. Over the next two decades, this limit will be further curtailed to about 0.5% after a detailed surveying in the year 2018. read more

Shape up to compete, Marina told domestic carriers

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

Local shipping industry will continue to lose from the airline industry unless services offered by vessel operators becomes at par with that of the airlines.

In a Passenger Service Rating System (PSRS) conducted by the Mari­time Industry Authority (Marina) recommended that local liners need to shape up to compete with the domestic air carriers.

Under the PSRS, vessel operators only got a 66.71% rating which is significantly lower than that of the airlines. read more

PPA approves, modifies North Port Terminal 1 design

Posted on October 31, 2011 by admin  |   No Comments

The Board of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has modified and approved the detailed development de­sign of Terminal 1 of the North Port, formerly North Harbor, submitted by operator Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI).

The Board has likewise extended the time­line in finishing the development, which only covers Terminal 1 or the provision on the Pas­senger Terminal Building (PTB) of the mod­ernization of the country’s premiere but most inefficient port.

Latest data showed that instead of having two PTBs to be located in Slip 5 and 13 of the North Port, PPA collapsed the development into only one PTB to be situated from Pier 4 to Pier 6 increasing the capacity to 1,600 persons at any given time. read more