NAMRIA

U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command representative visits the Philippine Fleet

Sangley Point, Cavite City – The Philippine Fleet (PF) received on 29-June-2022 the visiting representative from the US Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command 3rd /7th Fleet, Dr. John Edward Murray Brown at its headquarters at Naval Base Heracleo Alano. Dr. Brown paid a courtesy call on PF Commander, RAdm Nichols Driz at the headquarter’s wardroom. He…


Oceanographic and Research Vessels of the Philippines

As the jurisdiction to the BENHAM RISE plateau was finally given to the Philippines in 2017, unknown to many, the Philippines has an Oceanographic and Research Capability that dates back to the 1900s until the present. In December 1900, the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS) sent personnel to Manila to establish the sub-office of the USCGS in the Philippines….



Analysis of Storm Surges in Manila Bay

Background      The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines storm surge as the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide. The surge is caused primarily by storm winds pushing water onshore (NOAA, 2019). The amplitude of a storm surge is attributed to several factors…


Strengthening Our Hydrographic Office to Secure Our Future

This year is a milestone year for the global hydrographic community. 100 years ago or in June 1919, the 1st International Hydrographic Conference was held in London. It marks the beginning towards the creation of an international bureau for hydrography. Today, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States…


Revisiting the Sinking of the SS Corregidor

In the Mar-Apr 2016 (MR16-2) issue, I wrote about the sinking of SS Corregidor on 17-December-1941 that resulted in the death of my late father, an Army Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers on that fateful night, as he sailed on the SS Corregidor to rejoin his unit in Davao. He was the Assistant City Engineer and was called to…


Crowdsourced Bathymetry: Supporting Progress or Threatening Security

For the past few decades, the world experienced a big shift on how information is gathered and disseminated. The internet became a connection which is virtually unlimited. Today, it is norm to have free information – something which is uncommon during the days prior to the conception of the internet. Almost every information is already posted in the world wide…


Proceedings: MF’s 115 & 116

115th MARITIME FORUM MF 115 was hosted by the PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), held at the PCG Building, Port Area, Manila on 30-September-2016. Commo CARLOS L. AGUSTIN (Ret), FORUM CHAIR thanked the host RADM WILLIAM MELAD, CPCG, and acknowledged HON FELIPE JUDAN, USEC DOTr for Maritime Affairs, as well as the other agency heads present in the Forum. RADM WILLIAM…


Mining, Destabilization, Benham – DON’T PANIC

PART I “DUTERTE:  ‘MINING FIRMS FUNDING DESTABILIZATION PLOT.’ President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday accused some mining firms of financing what he called a ‘destabilization’ plot against his Administration.” Manila Times, 14-March-2017 During a presscon in Malacañang with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on 13-March-2017, President Rody Duterte said mining firms were funding the political opposition…


Time to Reactivate Naval Station Bicobian

An Order was issued proclaiming a Naval Reservation at Bicobian, Isabela by former President Ferdinand Marcos after the Karagatan incident wherein the CPA/NPA/NDF landed some 500 M14 rifles (made in China) on a fishing boat that ran aground at Digoyo Point, Isabela due to rough seas in mid-1972. I later got ordered to move the RPS Iloilo (PS32) from Northern…