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Marine Environment 3-Sep-2021

DENR-led Summit Adopts Resolutions Aimed at Eradicating Environmental Crimes

The 4th National Environmental Law Enforcement (NELE) Summit led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ended recently with the adoption of three resolutions to prevent and fight environmental crimes. The NELE summit, held last July 14-16, resulted in the adoption of resolutions to approve a five-year indicative plan of the National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee-Sub-committee on Environment…

Domestic Shipping, Maritime Training, Overseas Shipping 3-Sep-2021

MARINA Launches its Training Institute in Bacolod City

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), through a virtual soft launching, has announced on Thursday the opening of the MARINA Training Institute (MarTI) located in the four-story MARINA Regional Office – Western Visayas building situated inside the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. The MarTI, as an academic arm of the MARINA, is envisioned to be the country’s Maritime Innovation…

Marine Environment, Sustainable Fishery 3-Sep-2021

BFAR 7 Issues Stern Warning to Illegal Collectors of Banned Clams, Shells and Protected Species

Violators beware! Collectors of banned fishery products worth nearly Php 13 million were recently apprehended by local authorities during an operation conducted in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Dr. Allan Poquita, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR Region 7), advises people to refrain from catching or gathering the protected species since…

Marine Environment, Marine Technology, Offshore Wind 3-Sep-2021

TechnipFMC Enters Partnership with Magnora to Develop Floating Offshore Wind Projects

LONDON & PARIS & HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI) (PARIS:FTI) announced it has entered into an agreement with Magnora ASA (Magnora) to jointly pursue floating offshore wind project development opportunities under the name Magnora Offshore Wind. Magnora holds a strategic position within the renewable energy sector as an owner in offshore wind, onshore wind, and solar development projects and a key…

Domestic Shipping, Marine Transportation, National Affairs, Ports and Harbors 3-Sep-2021

Update on Department of Transportation Projects

In between an important, symbolic landing at the runway of the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, and its inspection, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade was able to participate virtually in the Megaworld International Philippine Property Expo 2021 today, 30-July-2021, to give a bird’s eye view of the revolutionary transport infrastructure programs, projects, and initiatives rolling out in…

Marine Environment, Marine Technology 3-Sep-2021

New Ship-Port Interface Guide to Support GHG Emissions Reduction

The list of presented measures is non-exhaustive and is a result of initial research and findings, aiming to raise awareness of potential ideas which the maritime community could explore further. The measures have not been ranked in terms of emission reduction potential, but have been ordered into measures related to port operations, administrative data, nautical data and speed optimization. Each…

Defense, Maritime Security, National Affairs 29-Jul-2021

The Culture of Maintenance

Before Congress abrogated the 1947 RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) the maintenance of most of the country’s defense equipment depended on the American logistics system. Some combatant ships and aircrafts were sent overseas for depot maintenance. Most spares came in handy with a robust supply system. In the 1960s the nation’s air force, with its Blue Diamond unit, and navy,…

Maritime Security, National Affairs 29-Jul-2021

CHINA: Understanding Its Strengths and Weaknesses

Chinese leader Xi Jinping promised his people that by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic, “China would become a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence and would build a stable international order in which China’s national rejuvenation would be fully achieved.” This statement alone is already pregnant with meaning. This article will attempt…

Defense, Maritime Security, National Affairs 29-Jul-2021

No Ordinary Boats: Cracking the Code on China’s Spratly Maritime Militias

A Chinese fishing vessel appears in a sensitive location —near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a South China Sea reef, or just offshore from a U.S. military base. Is it an “ordinary” fishing boat, or is it maritime militia? This straightforward question seldom yields straightforward answers. China does not publish a roster of maritime militia boats. That…

Events, Maritime Security, National Affairs 29-Jul-2021

MARINES Facilitate the Surrender of 10 ASG Members and Supporters in Sulu

A total of ten (10) individuals surrendered to government authorities in Seit Lake, Poblacion l, Panamao Sulu on 23-April-2021. According to reports, of the ten (10) individuals, four (4) were identified to be regular members of the terrorist group under ASG sub-leader SABSIBAR BENCIO, and the others were ASG supporters, who are identified as: Marisa Marajan 35 years old, wife…

Maritime Safety, Ship-Manning 29-Jul-2021

Safety of Life at Sea

In my previous contributions to the Maritime Review, I highlighted the importance of an all-government approach to national security in updating a National Defense and Act. In my second contribution which was about Maritime Governance and administration, I highlighted the fragmentation of our various agencies and recommended amending the executive order that created the Coast Watch System, and updating the…

Ship-Design, Shipbuilding 29-Jul-2021

Diesel Electric Submarines with Air Independent Propulsion Systems compared with Nuclear-powered Submarines

Introduction. The Diesel Electric Submarine was considered as a principal weapons system of naval warfare, especially in littoral waters.  Submarine designers and builders focused their design in making them capable to operate, run silent and run deep, with increasing underwater endurance.  Diesel Electric Submarines need to surface and link to the atmospheric oxygen to supply air for the generators to…

Marine Environment, Sustainable Fishery 29-Jul-2021

DA-BFAR Focuses on Resource Sustainability in WPS and Extends Livelihood Support to Fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is strongly committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring food security especially in this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleviating the economic conditions of the fisheries sector especially the fisherfolk, and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing among other challenges, that continue to hound the Philippine fisheries…

Coast Guard, Defense, National Affairs 29-Jul-2021

Preparing for the Worst

The worrisome situation that continues to intensify across the Indo-Pacific theater – India-China border, Taiwan Straits, East China Sea, South China Sea – is subverting diplomatic efforts to restore peace and order, and escalating the prospects of an armed conflict due to clashing core interests of the great powers between China and the US. While our interdependent foreign policy seeks…

Marine Environment 29-Jul-2021

Trees, Mangrove Planting Now Mandatory for Every PPA Contract or Permit Issued

True to its commitment to help promote environmental protection and sustainability, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has ordered the mandatory planting of trees and mangroves for every contract, accreditation and permits issued by the agency. The order took effect on the 2nd of February after the 15-day publication period reckoning from 19-January-2021. PPA Administrative Order No. 14-2020, signed by PPA…

Maritime Training, Ship-Manning 29-Jul-2021

Dragging Anchor: Is More Always Better?

“The more we work together, the merrier we’ll be.” Or so the popular lullaby goes. However this does not ring true for the Philippine domestic ships with an overwhelmingly large number of cadets onboard. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Report conducted last year states, “The team found cases in which 11, 16 or even 37 deck cadets were onboard…

Marine Technology, Oil & Gas, Zero Emission 29-Jul-2021

New Age of Sail Looks to Slash Massive Maritime Carbon Emissions

If ocean shipping were a country, it would be the sixth-largest carbon emitter, releasing more CO2 annually than Germany. International shipping accounts for about 2.2% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.N. International Maritime Organization. But change is on the way. Wind, solar electric, and hydrogen-powered ships offer innovative low- or no-carbon alternatives to fossil fuel-powered cargo…

Chairman's Page, Maritime History 24-May-2021

UNITY OF COMMAND – An Enduring Principle

French industrialist Henry Fayol, recognized by many as father of modern management and author of the book titled “Industrial and General Administration” published in 1916, identified 14 Principles of Management that serve as guidelines for managers to perform their duties and responsibilities. One of these principles is “unity of command.” Simply put, this principle means that subordinates must have, and…

Defense, Ship-Design, Shipbuilding 24-May-2021

Hamilton Class Weather High Endurance Cutter (WHEC) – Proven Suitability for the Missions of both Coast Guard and Navy

History The Hamilton WHEC was constructed beginning in the 1960s, and they were intended to fulfill both Coast Guard peacetime and wartime requirements, and serve alongside the Navy. During the Vietnam War, several types of vessels supported the “Operation Market Time,” provided patrol duties, boarding and inspection of North Vietnamese vessels and boats, conducted naval gunfire support, missions, and medical…

Defense, Maritime Law 24-May-2021

Aspects of the RP-US Defense Alliance

A Chinese embassy official once told a Philippine diplomat, “Why don’t you get closer to a friendly neighbour rather than a distant cousin?” Of course he was referring to the relationship between the Philippines and China vis a vis the former and the United States. On another occasion a US official, on the same topic similarly quipped, “Yes, you cannot…

Defense, Maritime History 24-May-2021

THE DATU KALANTIAW CLASS FRIGATES

The Philippine Navy is one of five Asian navies that possessed the Cannon Class Destroyer Escort apart from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), Republic of China Navy (ROCN), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The Philippine Navy inducted into service its first Cannon Class Destroyer Escort (known in Filipino Naval Service as the…