Retrofit Highlights use of LPG as a Marine Fuel

The world’s first LPG-fuelled vessel has set sail. Powered with Wärtsilä’s customized and reliable Fuel Supply System, the vessel represents a major breakthrough in the search for new ways to reduce marine emissions. BW LPG, the world’s largest owner and operator of very large liquified petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, is approaching a major milestone in the retrofit of a number…


Radioactivity in Waters around the Philippines

Recently a friend asked me if I had heard any news regarding elevated levels of radioactivity in the waters surrounding the Philippine Islands. I admit I had not, but would check into it. According to Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) radioactive material was indeed found in existing coral and waters in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). PNRI Director Carlo Arcilla…


Wave System at work on Dolomite Sand Pebbles Beachfront along Manila Bay

INTRODUCTION This article is a part II of my previous publication, “Wave Dynamics Retain Dolomite Sand Pebbles Intact at the Beachfront along Manila Bay,” in the Maritime Review’s Nov–Dec  2020 issue. In addition to that previous article, this topic presents the real time wave system along Roxas Blvd., Manila Bay, explaining my analogy by illustration and definition, the physical behavior…


Nine IUU Fishing Vessels Nabbed in Mauban, Quezon

Nine (9) commercial fishing vessels using Danish Seine, locally known as buli-buli or hulbo-bulbot, were apprehended by fisheries law enforcers of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and other agencies in the river of Barangay Tapucan in Mauban, Quezon before the year 2020 capped off. In the morning of 31-December-2020, the commercial fishing vessels…



DA-BFAR launches Integrated Fish and Vegetable Farming for Urban Dwellers

As part of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration, Agriculture Secretary William Dar unveiled the project Urban Aquaponics during the launching of the Plant, Plant, Plant Program in Quezon City. Aquaponics, an innovative technology that combines concepts of aquaculture and hydroponics to allow fishes and vegetables to grow together in an integrated system, is one of the government’s newest project…



Navy Chief Affirms Cooperation with Philippine Coast Guard and NCWC

NAVAL STATION JOSE ANDRADA, Manila, September 29 – Philippine Navy (PN) Fag Officer in Command, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo visited the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at South Harbor, Manila as a gesture of affirming stronger inter-agency cooperation. VAdm Bacordo met with PCG Commandant and fellow member of PMA “Hinirang Class of 1987, Admiral George Ursabia Jr,…


PCG holds sailing demonstration of BRP Gabriela Silang in Manila Bay

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) held a sailing demonstration of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) at the vicinity waters 25 nautical miles off Port of Manila on 15-September-2020. PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr personally welcomed Philippine National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N Lorenzana and Philippine Navy (PN) Flag-Officer-In-Command, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo who witnessed the activity….



The Sinking and Raising of RPS RAJAH SOLIMAN (D-66) 29-JUNE-1964

On 29-June-1964, the Philippine Navy lost its Flagship and First Destroyer Escort during the fury of Typhoon Winnie. The loss of a Flagship is a major loss to any Naval Force. Fortunately during this incident, none of the Officers and Crew were lost. Despite the harshness of Mother Nature, the ship’s entire complement braved the typhoon to save the ship…


400,000 Seafarers Stuck at Sea as Crew Change Crisis Deepens

Some 400,000 seafarers from across the globe are now stranded on ships, continuing to work but unable to be relieved, in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety. During a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (24 September), Captain Hedi Marzougui, who was in command of a vessel between December 2019…


REV Ocean & WMU Join Forces Developing a “Floating University” Ocean Concept

In a virtual ceremony on 8 September, REV Ocean and the World Maritime University (WMU) signed an exciting new partnership agreement to join forces and find solutions to critical ocean issues. The agreement focuses on tackling marine debris, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), and climate change through innovative education initiatives that will also support priority areas identified in the…


SHELL Sets Course for Net-Zero Emissions Shipping

Today, in a new report, Decarbonizing Shipping: Setting Shell’s Course, Shell highlights the important role that hydrogen and fuel cells could play in achieving a decarbonized shipping sector. Calling for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt a clear trajectory to net-zero emissions by 2050, Shell outlines how it is contributing to accelerating the change needed in the industry to…


Market Expansion and Diversification Over The Past Decade: What’s Next for LNG?

Using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel is a sensible strategy amid tightening regulations, new economic realities and the development of the new zero carbon fuels of the future, says Panos Mitrou, Head of Gas, Lloyd’s Register (LR). Panos Mitrou, LR’s Global Gas Segment Manager, has been dealing with LNG as fuel for the past eight years. Over…


ExxonMobil Completes Successful Trial of its Marine Biofuel Oil

ExxonMobil has completed a successful sea trial of the company’s first marine biofuel oil with shipping company Stena Bulk, bunkered in the port of Rotterdam. The marine biofuel oil is a 0.50% sulphur residual-based fuel (VLSFO) processed with a second-generation waste-based FAME component (ISCC certified) —and will be available later this year— initially in Rotterdam before a wider launch across…


Fuel Choice – the Essential Decision in Shipping’s Decarbonization

DNV GL – Maritime has released the 4th edition of its Maritime Forecast to 2050. The purpose of Maritime Forecast to 2050 is to enhance the ability of shipping stakeholders, especially shipowners, to navigate the technological, regulatory and market uncertainties in the industry, and set shipping on a pathway to decarbonization. It is based on a library of 30 scenarios…


Marlink and Quadrille Extend Their Partnership to Offer a News Channel for Seafarers

News channels in multiple languages to support the mental health of the crew are now available via Marlink’s Xchange. Marlink, the world’s leading provider of end-to-end managed smart network solutions has extended its partnership with software and service provider Quadrille to provide a dedicated news and information channel to Marlink maritime customers. Marlink and Quadrille are thus expanding their existing…


LNG Retrofits: The Time is Now

LNG as fuel has long been considered the industry’s last, best hope to meet the IMO’s ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. So why aren’t we seeing more LNG retrofits on existing tonnage? In April 2018, MEPC 72 adopted resolution MEPC.304(72) on the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships. The IMO has…


TECO & AVL to Boost Shipping’s Decarbonization with Marine Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Marine engineering and equipment development company TECO 2030 and engineering firm AVL List have announced plans to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system specifically designed for heavy-duty marine applications. The companies have been working to develop the TECO Marine Fuel Cell, with the aim to market the first proton-exchange membrane fuel cell system specifically designed for marine applications. The three-year…


USCG to Test Autonomous Vessel for Its Missions

The US Coast Guard will soon acquire a new autonomous vessel for testing and evaluating the capabilities of available autonomous vessel technology, as part of its regulatory changes for the development of autonomous maritime systems. Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announced it has partnered with Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark Boats, to supply the USCG’s Research and Development Center (RDC) with a…


Maritime Partner Delivers Norway’s Largest Ambulance Boat

On 12-October-2020 in Ålesund, Norway, Maritime Partner AS delivered to Loppa Legeskyssbåter AS the MV Thea Jensen, a Loppa Ambulance boat. After four months of outfitting at Maritime Partner’s shipyard in Ålesund, Norway’s largest ambulance catamaran has been handed over to shipowner Loppa Legeskyssbåter. It is Maritime Partner’s build number 2168. She will be stationed in Øksfjord in the North…


Scrubbers have a Lower Climate Impact than Low-Sulphur Fuels, MARPOL Study Finds

CE Delft issued a new study, in which it finds that scrubbers have a lower climate impact than low-sulphur fuels. Specifically, the study finds that the CO2-emissions associated using a scrubber vary between 1.5% and 3% for a number of representative ships. In many cases, the emissions caused by the production of low-sulphur fuels for these ships are higher, depending…


Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly to Equip and Operate 2 Zero-Emission Autonomous Vessels

Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly (a Kongsberg Wilhelmsen joint venture) have signed contracts with the leading Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to equip two new vessels with autonomous technology, and to manage their operations at sea. With Norwegian companies delivering around 60% of the investment, this is a major milestone for the growth of sustainable maritime operations in Norway. The fully electric…


New Navi-Port Technology to Revolutionize Port Operations

At ports around the world, anchored vessels sit in the distance, waiting for permission to dock, resulting in fuel waste, higher carbon emissions, and congestion. Is there a solution to this problem? In most cases, cargo ships arriving at port are assigned a docking space on a first-come-first-served basis. This method of port arrivals has, in effect, created a queueing…