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WPS: Testing Our National Will

n his book “The New Rules of War” Professor Sean McFate describes the post-WWII era as a period of “durable disorder.” He cites the following evidence to support his finding: increasing challenges on the “rules-based” world order; rising number of “fragile” or “failed” states; half of the countries in the world are experiencing some form of conflict; armed conflicts today…

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IMO Regulations for Cyber Security Risk Management

UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MARITIME CYBER SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT In response to the growing threat of cyber-crime, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued Resolution MSC.428(98). This regulation has since been complemented by other guidelines, notably those developed by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) for cyber risk management. These guidelines lay out high-level recommendations for incorporating cyber risk management into existing safety management…


Five Top Tips for Sourcing Port Cyber-Attack Insurance Cover

Port cyber-attacks are now one of the biggest and most sophisticated threats facing port operators, notes Ed McNamara, President & CEO, Armada Risk Partners, and a port insurance broker in Cleveland, Ohio. Nagoya, Japan has become the latest in a long line of global ports to be targeted by a ransomware attack. The incident in early July had severe consequences…


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IMO Considers STCW Training Provisions On Bullying and Harassment

STCW training provisions on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9), 6-10 February 2023, agreed to draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including…


Crew Welfare Executive Roundtable Industry Report

As we celebrate International Day of the Seafarer, we are pleased to present a review of the outcomes from the recent June 2023 Mission to Seafarers Executive Roundtable on Crew Welfare held in Singapore. The event focused on identifying solutions to the challenges faced by seafarers. The Roundtable explored 5 key areas that significantly impact the lives of seafarers: (1)…


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5 Reasons Why Shipping and Aviation Need Green Hydrogen and Direct Air Capture to Decarbonize

The shipping and aviation industries are energy intensive, so they have a limited pool of options to choose from when it comes to decarbonization. However, green hydrogen and carbon dioxide derived from direct air capture (DAC) will both be integral in their efforts to reach net-zero. We established the Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator Coalition (SASHA Coalition) to highlight the…


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Study on Methods and Considerations for the Determination of GHG Reduction for International Shipping

Executive Summary. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships which envisages to “reduce GHG emissions from international shipping and phase them out as soon as possible in this century.” It also expresses the ambition to: reduce CO2 emissions per transport…


Ground Breaking First Ammonia Engine Test Completed

Successful ammonia combustion in MAN B&W two-stroke engine marks ‘historic’ step for company and maritime sector MAN Energy Solutions has announced the successful first running of a test engine on ammonia at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC). The company reports the successful combustion was performed on a MAN B&W 2-stroke 4T50ME-X type and produced positive results with particularly promising data…


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Why PNOY and BBM Leaned on America, Not China

The world’s predominant superpower will always create the conditions to perpetuate its global dominance and weaker nations will always be subsumed by these conditions. Like it or not, that’s just how the world works. It was true during the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires as it was true during the recent British and American empires. How do superpowers create the…


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The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is designed to provide comprehensive protection for seafarers before, during, and after employment especially in the event of maritime accidents, pandemics or epidemics, or other natural or manmade disasters. It codifies the rights of seafarers into a single reference law. Who are the seafarers in the Magna Carta. This Act shall cover Filipino…


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The Philippine Blue Economy Insights and Foresights Presented at the Beacon Expo 2023, on 8-September-2023

INTRODUCTION. To all distinguished guests from various agencies of government and the private sector, subject matter experts, and all  our attendees, a pleasant morning to all. Foremost, I would like to congratulate the Maritime League and the Department of Transportation for spearheading the Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference, or BEACON 2023. It is my distinct honor to represent the…


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Our Mine Warfare Force

INTRODUCTION. A country with a 36,289-kilometer coastline and the world’s second largest archipelago, the Philippines’ lifeline is the sea, thus utilizing it to our advantage is a primary mission as part of today’s area denial counter to an invader. The country having a number of straits, inlets, bays and passageways can use these features in delaying the enemy’s advance. The…


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PPA Eyes 19 more Seaport Projects by End of 2023

16-AUGUST-2023, MANILA — Infrastructure in ports development nationwide will continue to accelerate in the coming months, as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gears toward the completion of another 19 seaport projects before the end of 2023, adding up to the 30 seaport projects already completed during the first year of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. PPA’s 19 seaport infrastructure projects…


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New Appointments at PCG and MARINA

The President appointed two senior maritime officials under the Department of Transportation to lead the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Administration (MARINA) in October and December last year. The new Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard is Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan PCG who assumed after the retirement of Admiral Artemio Abu in October. He was Deputy…


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Maritime League VP Wins Anew as AGFO Chairman and President

The Maritime League’s Vice President and Maritime Review Editorial Board Chairman, Vice Admiral Emilio C Marayag Jr AFP (Ret), secured anew the trust and  confidence of the members of the Association of General and Flag Officers, Inc. during its Annual Membership Meeting and Election held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on November 24, 2023. He clinched the Association’s top position…


Rightsizing and Retooling Defense Forces

In April this year, the President ordered a review of numerous government positions for rightsizing to “upgrade and reskill the workforce in order to improve state services and programs.” The call emanated from the President’s 2022 State of the Nation Address. Consequently several legislators proposed a National Rightsizing Act that is well-aligned with the Revised Administrative Code. The review and…


The 3 Golden Rules of Effective Shipping Communications

Digitization has brought massive benefits to the shipping industry. It’s now possible for charterers to make million-dollar deals in a matter of minutes using email alone. But recent years have also seen exponential growth in the volume of messages that shippers send and receive. Charterers, brokers, operators and port agents can sift through thousands of emails a day, and missing…


Why We Should Be Cautious with Invasive Mussels

Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. Their name comes from the dark zig-zagged stripes on each shell. The zebra mussel [Pallas, 1771] is a shellfish named for the striped pattern of its shell. This mussel is typically found attached to objects, surfaces, or other mussels by threads extending from underneath the shells….


IMO Considers STCW Training Provisions On Bullying and Harassment

STCW training provisions on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9), 6-10 February 2023, agreed to draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including…


Better Monitoring and Data Gathering of Human Rights at Sea Necessary

Wilton Park published its report on “Human Rights Law at Sea,” discussing the key themes of discussion, problems identified, and recommendations for possible ways forward concerning human rights protections at sea. The Wilton Park “Human Rights Law at Sea” Conference, organized in partnership with Human Rights at Sea Advisory Board member Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG, OBE, FLSW, was initiated as a…


Use of Biofuels in Shipping

The use of biofuels or biofuel blends is one of many ways to comply with the IMO’s strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, and DNV has seen an increasing interest in these new fuels. This news aims to clarify the regulatory status and other considerations on the usage of such fuels. DNV has received many requests regarding…


Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment 2022 Report

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has a strong tradition of collaborating with owners and operators in the Marine Environment (ME) to provide relevant information about best practices to secure their critical systems. Since December 2020, Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER) has vastly grown its presence and increased its operational tempo to protect cyber systems underpinning the ME. The observations…


Why PNoy and BBM Leaned on America, Not China

The world’s predominant superpower will always create the conditions to perpetuate its global dominance and weaker nations will always be subsumed by these conditions. Like it or not, that’s just how the world works. It was true during the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires as it was true during the recent British and American empires. How do superpowers create the…


Philippine Navy Hosts the 17th Asean Navy Chiefs’ Meeting

The year 2023 is a monumental year for the Philippine Navy. What started as a revolutionary independent force that was founded by the first Philippine President, President Emilio Aguinaldo on May 20, 1898,[i] grew to become the country’s naval warfare service that celebrated its 125th anniversary last May 20, 2023. But before the celebration of its founding anniversary, the Philippine…