Maritime Review (Mar-Apr 2016 Issue)
(click cover to download the magazine)
March 2016
Challenges for the Presidential Hopefuls: Contemporary and Strategic
As predicted and highlighted since early January, there is now an emerging confluence of important developments in the Philippines, in the Asia-Pacific region, and also around the world in terms of global security and well-being of Mother Earth’s people. While this series of current and forthcoming events may be seen as serious setbacks to the administration of President Benigno S….
Proceedings of MBFs 107 & 108
The 107th Maritime Breakfast Forum (MBF) was hosted by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and held at Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, on 25 Nov 2015. Undersecretary EDWIN LOPEZ (Operations and PPP, DOTC) welcomed the attendees on behalf of SEC. JOSEPH ABAYA. COMMO. CARLOS L. AGUSTIN (Ret.) (President, Maritime League) chaired the Maritime Forums. ENGR. ENRICO FERRE…
Developing the Eastern Luzon Strategic Seaboard
Atty. Romeo G. Roxas, Romy to his friends, is having double-vision – figuratively. Standing on his corner office overlooking Ayala’s Makati development, he sees the effort put into the land, from a raw price of P50 per square meter back in the day to a steep P200,000 — a condo in Rockwell goes for P25 million. At nearby Bonifacio Global…
Capt. Dan Gruta Mentors Children of Seafarers
In a recent visit to the Philippines, retired US Navy Captain Dan Gruta was invited by Joel and Tessa Yuvienco, co-owners of Ekindling Inc. (a blended learning company) to conduct a mentorship session with the school children (K- 12) of Filipino seafarers at the San Pancras School at AMOSUP’s Seaman’s Village in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Capt. Gruta accepted the offer with…
Expanding Military Budget Prompts Philippines Defense Procurement Event
Upcoming presidential elections in Philippines and a 9.2% increase in the country’s defense budget sees National Coast Watch Council Secretariat, Office Of The President partnering with IQPC Asia to host the inaugural Maritime Security & Coastal Surveillance Philippines in June 2016.
South China Sea/West Philippine Sea Dispute
About half of the world’s seaborne trade passes through the South China Sea (SCS) valued at US$5.3 trillion annually. The SCS dispute has the potential to overturn the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the constitution for the earth’s oceans and seas. For the Philippines, at stake in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are: (1) 80%…
A Partnership to Strengthen the Philippine Shipbuilding Industry
The Philippines, being an archipelago with over 7,000 islands, has a thriving maritime industry that spans logistics, ship-repair, and of course, shipbuilding of very large vessels. This has earned the country the distinction of being the 4th largest shipbuilder in the world.
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s First Hybrid Tugboat
The first of a series of three ASD TUGs 2810 Hybrid was navigated into the Den Helder Harbour by the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) on February 20th. This hybrid tug boat that bears the name Noordzee is almost 29 meters long and is the first standard hybrid tug supplied by Damen Shipyard to the RNLN.
The Sinking of SS Corregidor
Looking for an idea for this issue’s column, I reviewed my e-mail files and came across what a friend and classmate, Capt. Frank Bessenger USN (Ret) sent me in April 2011. He recalled his last tour of duty working for the late VADM John D. Bulkeley, USN as a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) in Washington,…
Taiwan’s New President
In 16-January 2016, J.R. Wu and Ben Blanchard reported on Asia Times that Taiwan’s President-elect Tsai Ing-wen called for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, and for a peaceful resolution to the growing dispute in the area.