Maritime Review (Mar-Apr 2017 Issue)
(click cover to download the magazine)
March 2017
Naval Bases for New Sea Frontier
Five years ago, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf adopted in its entirety the Philippine submission to extend the country’s seabed boundary in the Philippine Sea with the discovery of the Benham Rise Region. The UN concurrence added 135,506 square kilometers, about 45% of the nation’s land area, to Philippine seabed area and the waters…
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…
On the Philippines’ Chairing ASEAN in 2017
The Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Inc. (PAFI) urges the Philippines to seize the opportunity presented by its chairing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2017 when ASEAN celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding to assert and project a leadership role in the construction of regional ocean governance and maritime security as a Philippine contribution to the ASEAN Community…
Keep Fort San Antonio Abad Afloat
IS THIS HOW IT ALL STARTED? IS THIS HOW IT WILL END? The latest Base Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) website advertises the sale of Fort Abad: A BIT OF HISTORY. More than five centuries ago, in 1584, the Spanish Armada established “Fuerte de San Antonio Abad” in Manila way ahead of Fort San Felipe (1609) in Cavite, to protect the…
Indonesian Submarine Program: Acquisitions and Upgrades
The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) is currently anticipating the delivery of three new Type 209/1400-class submarines from the South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). The service has also indicated aspirations to operate a fleet of either 10 or 12 underwater fighting platforms beyond 2024. What are the Indonesian government’s requirements for these…
P. Du30’s Top Priority – Poverty, Terrorism Or Drugs?
PART I As clearly proven during the closing days of 2016 and early 2017, terrorism and violence around the world dominated the headlines. Not just the beleaguered Middle East, but also Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, France, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and even the U.S. were not spared wanton killings because of man’s inhumanity to fellowman. According…
MAAP Receives ISO 9001:2015 Recertification
Following its 2017 periodic audit, the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) has recently received its ISO 9001:2015 recertification issued by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and Germanischer Lloyd (GL) or DNV-GL. This second audit focused on effective risk management on quality processes. MAAP President Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos AFP (Ret) said, “This achievement is the result…
APFC Receives Maritime Recognition Award
Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC) or FastCat received a Maritime Recognition Award from the Maritime Forum in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of The Maritime League, the forum’s founding convener. FastCat Chairman, Christopher Pastrana was present to receive the award for the “Excellence in the Development, Management and Operation of a Modern Interisland Ferry System” category. The company owns and operates the country’s first and…
Southeast Asia Transshipment Hubs to Compete Fiercely in 2017
Southeast Asia’s port scene is incredibly dynamic, and 2017 will be a year of significant changes with big implications for shippers as structural adjustments in the liner shipping sector and the region’s economic make-up continue. The changing market could result in lower terminal handling charges for shippers as container terminals in the region fight to undercut each other on pricing…
OPC, CHEC Ink Deal for Puerto Cortes Expansion
Operadura Portuaria Centroamericana SA de CV (OPC) has signed a contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the first phase of the expansion of the Specialized Container and Cargo Terminal in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. The first phase covers the construction of a 350-meter long berth with a controlling depth of 15.5 meters, two trestles that will be connected to…
Circular of Requirements and Technical Evaluation Parameters for Acquisition of Frigates
INTRODUCTION. The Philippine National Defense has signed a contract with Hyundai of South Korea for the construction of two units of Incheon Class Frigate last 24-October-2016 at the cost of USD 337M to modernize the capability of surface combatants of the Philippine Navy. WHY A FRIGATE? A frigate represents lower investment in terms of cost and displacement compared with a…
Ingalls Shipbuilding Begins Building New Destroyer
Jan. 27 (UPI) — Ingalls Shipbuilding has officially begun fabrication on a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), for the US Navy. The official start of fabrication means the first 100 tons of steel have been cut for the vessel. “Starting fabrication on another destroyer is a great way to start the year,” Ingalls Shipbuilding…
Sea Quest Oversees Construction of State-of-the-Art Tanker for Major UK Defense Project
Korean shipyard specialist SeaQuest Marine Project Management has successfully completed a major project overseeing the construction of one of the UK Ministry of Defense’s latest Naval Auxiliaries that will provide support to the new UK aircraft carriers and other British & NATO naval vessels. On 12-January-2017, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and the UK Ministry of Defense (UK MOD)…
Keystone Leverages Software for 1st US Commercial Windfarm
As part of the USD 290 million Block Island Wind Farm project to supply less expensive power to Rhode Island and New England, Keystone Engineering (Keystone) was retained to design the substructures for five, 6-megawatt wind turbine generators. To accommodate the complex aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loading of the deep water wind turbines and streamline communication with the generator designer, Keystone…
Friend of the Sea Confirms Freitasmar Tuna
Portuguese seafood canner, Freitasmar, has received Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna on January 1, 2017. Freitasmar, which specializes in the production of canned seafood, can now display the official seal on its products. FOS-certified supplier, Frabelle, a fishing company from the Philippines, fishes all tuna species for Freitasmar. Frabelle uses the Purse Seine fishing…
The Philippine Crocodiles
There are two crocodile species found in the Philippines – the Crocodylus porosus and the Crocodylus mindorensis. The latter is the specie endemic to and found only in the Philippines. Crocodiles are called “Buwaya” in the Philippines. However, it is used interchangeably to mean either crocodile or alligator. The word “Buwaya” originates from the Proto-Austranesian word “Buqaya.” A. CROCODYLUS POROSUS is…
Oceana Report Exposes Thousands of Suspected Vessel Rendezvous at Sea
Oceana uses Global Fishing Watch data to highlight transshipping hotspots, countries and ports of interest. Oceana today released a report exposing the global scale of transshipping at sea, a practice that can mask illegal fishing practices and conceal human rights abuses. The report, which was released at The Economist’s World Ocean Summit in Bali, Indonesia, uses a new dataset released…