Stories

Revolutionizing Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Batteries with ‘Doped’ Carbon Anodes

As the world becomes aware of the imminent environmental crisis, scientists have begun a search for sustainable energy sources. Rechargeable batteries like lithium-ion batteries are seeing a popularity surge, concurrent with production of ‘greener’ technologies such as electric propulsion ships (which are being developed to meet the environmental regulations by the International Maritime Organization) and other electric vehicles. But, lithium…


New ABB Emission Monitoring Solution Helps Maritime Industry Achieve Decarbonization

The launch of ABB’s CEMcaptain will help shipping comply with the sulphur emission regulations that were enforced in 2020. In January 2020, the low SOx and NOx emission limits in the International Maritime Organization regulations became effective worldwide. CEMcaptain is a powerful emissions monitoring system from ABB designed to help the maritime industry meet these new regulations and become more…


630 Ships Sent for Demolition During 2020

According to new data released by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, 630 ocean-going commercial ships and offshore units were sold to the scrap yards in 2020. Of these vessels, 446 large tankers, bulkers, floating platforms, cargo- and passenger ships were broken down on three beaches in South Asia, amounting to near 90% of the gross tonnage dismantled globally. Ships are considered…


Environmental Factors Enhance Diesel Electric Submarine Dominance in the Littoral Zone Battlespace

INTRODUCTION This article attempts to describe the difference between the two (2) submarine battlespaces in the littoral zone and open ocean for diesel electric submarines and nuclear attack submarines, and the inherent environmental factors in an arena of underwater warfare for type submarine that can be exploited to one’s own advantage by cognizant naval commanders. This research work by the…


South Korean Shipbuilders expect to Dominate Global Market on Back of LNG Carriers

South Korea retained its status as the world-leading shipbuilding industry last year despite many COVID-19 challenges. Experts forecast the new year will treat domestic shipbuilders better as they will benefit from the introduction of eco-friendly policies. South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering has developed a technology that helps determine the safety of liquefied natural gas carriers in its shipyards….


Philippines Support of Neptune Declaration Highlights Vital Role of Seafarers

Numerous manning agencies based in Manila support the Neptune Declaration, to ensure the wellbeing of seafarers affected by the crew change crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local media, the Neptune Declaration was signed by over 450 maritime industry and human rights leaders, including Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), and OSM Maritime, representing the Philippines. Commenting…


Propelling The Maritime Industry Into A Decarbonized Future

With increasing demands on owners and operators to improve efficiency while also preparing for decarbonization targets, the maritime industry is facing multiple challenges. While the development of alternative fuels is a critical element in the decarbonization journey, the need to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption is also a key part of this equation. Propulsion solutions are central to this…


OIM Wind to install KONGBERG Wind Turbine Installation Unit

Norway-based company OIM Wind will install a next-generation Wind Turbine Installation Unit (WTIU) by Kongsberg Maritime (KM) that will reduce energy consumption by up to 30 per cent. The installation is destined to be among the largest of its type. A Letter of Intent was signed between Chinese shipbuilder Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore and KM to deliver the BT-220IU Wind…


Seafarer Stories: Yrhen Bernard Balinis, Ordinary Seaman, Filipino

Our ‘Seafarer Stories’ new column hosts seafarers’ views who present briefly the key challenges of life and work onboard, providing a picture of what a career at sea actually means. In this context, we are happy to host an interview with Yrhen Bernard S. Balinis, an ordinary seaman from Philippines, who inspire us with his story. Yrhen shares his life-changer…


Shipping Needs to Raise Its Cyber Game

The shipping industry is lagging behind other industrial sectors in the all-important field of cyber security. Ben Densham, Chief Technology Officer of Nettitude, the cyber security services provider of Lloyd’s Register, warns of a rising incidence in attacks, with ransomware and targeted cyber assaults both becoming more common. “As the pace of shipping’s digital transformation accelerates, the threat surface is…


DA-BFAR Lifts Three-Month Galunggong Closed Season in Palawan

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) lifted the three-month closed fishing season on round scad or galunggong in northeastern Palawan on 31-January-2021. This marks the 6th year since it was first implemented in 2015. The province of Palawan is a major supplier of galunggong in Metro Manila with an average of 95% of galunggong catch…


Gov’t Agencies Join Hands in Restoration of Cagayan River after Typhoon Ulysses

The promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to normalize the lives of Cagayan residents and those in nearby provinces after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses was further realized as government agencies pooled resources to restore the Cagayan River. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade joined Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, Department of Public Works and…


Shipping industry Takes New Step to Protect Marine Environments

Cleaning a ship’s submerged parts from barnacles and other growths, while the ship is in the water, can transfer invasive species to local marine environments unless it is properly cleaned and the debris is captured. To combat this problem, and to provide clarity and quality assurance to shipowners, ports and government authorities, BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)…


Is Nuclear Power the Future of Shipping?

In 2019, everyone in shipping was waiting for 2020 and the introduction of the 2020 sulphur cap. 2020 came and in spite concerns that shipping would not be able to comply with the regulation, the majority of ships actually complies. New, green fuels, like LNG and hydrogen have sure helped, as well as scrubbers. However, the need for further decarbonization…


Enemy Beneath the Waves: Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations in the Philippine Navy during the 50’s

INTRODUCTION Submarine Warfare and Anti-Submarine Warfare is no stranger to the world’s Second largest archipelago as its waters were witness to the various naval battles of the last Pacific War between Submarines of the United States Navy against that of Imperial Japan and/or the other way around with the former during the Battle of Palawan Passage in October 1944 with…



Sustaining Power Availability

As assistant naval staff for plans (N5) in 1999, I had an opportunity to visit the construction site of the concrete gravity structure (CGS) of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in Subic bay area. The then Captain Constancio Jardiniano, later rear admiral and former N5, personally piloted the navy helicopter that brought us there. In our earlier discussions, we both considered…


DFA repatriates over 327,000 Filipinos in 2020

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today reported that its repatriation efforts in 2020 brought home a total of 327,511 overseas Filipinos. DFA said land-based repatriates make up 231,537 or 70.7% of the total numbers, coming from at least 90 countries around the world. The remaining 29.3% or 95,974 are seafarers from more than 150 cruise ships, oil tankers, and…


Book Review on Farwell’s Rules of the Nautical Road

The Preface indicates that the book was first published as The Rules of the Nautical Road by the late Captain Raymond F. Farwell of the U.S. Naval Reserve and professor of transportation at the University of Washington. After its first publication in 1941, many statutory and regulatory changes have been made, including the international side. These necessitated the revision of…


Action Plan for Urban Security Against Terrorism

Prevailing Conditions The need to strengthen urban areas has been considered among the most vital considerations in securing the country from terrorism, crime and violence. This is to underscore the fact that urban areas are the centers of the political and economic activities wherein the legitimacy of the country’ s existence  and the ability to perform the mandate of governance…


Ships Risk Detention Over Cybersecurity

Ships that fail to comply with cybersecurity code of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) may face detention from 1-January-2021. This comes as the IMO identified the management of cybersecurity as a key aspect of safety as technology becomes essential in ship operations. The group has identified cybersecurity as a major risk to be addressed in safety management systems. The handling…


Digitalizing the Maritime Sector Set to Boost Competitiveness and Resilience of Global Trade

Joint report by the World Bank and IAPH to assist ports and maritime transport community accelerate digitalization and minimize ship-shore human interaction and COVID-19 risks. WASHINGTON, January 21, 2021—A new report was launched by the World Bank and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) shows that better digital collaboration between private and public entities across the maritime supply…


77% of Shipping Businesses used Charter Flights for Crew Changes

Over 90% of shipping businesses are re-thinking how crew changes are managed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research carried out by travel management company, ATPI Marine & Energy. Representatives from over 30 different shipping businesses around the world took part in the research, the results of which were unveiled this week and show the impact…


Ship Repair and Retrofit Goes Digital

Vessel maintenance specialist, Newport Shipping, has unveiled a first of kind, innovative online portal that has been specifically designed to ease the complexities of ship repair and retrofit works. Digitalization is making its mark in the shipping sector, with many bespoke online tools now being utilized daily to operate and manage the world’s merchant vessel fleet. Arguably however, the ship…