Maritime Review (July-August 2018 Issue)
(click cover to download the magazine)
July 2018
National Marine Policy Review: Gains and Gaps
Recognizing the archipelagic and maritime nature of the country, then President Fidel V Ramos issued in 1994 the National Marine Policy (NMP) to guide various stakeholders in the maritime community, especially those in government, in managing the “blue economy.” The policy contains four key areas: Politics and Jurisdiction, Area Regulation and Enforcement, Area Development and Conservation, and Maritime Security. Although…
Can the Laguna Lake Spillway Be Done?
Very early on Wednesday, 18 July, while enroute from Dasmariñas City to my office in Makati, I was mentally debating what specific topic I would address for this issue of the Review. Three major issues our Advocates for National Interests (ANI) group would like to delve on initially are: (1) the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), (2) the West Philippine Sea…
National Security Policy 2017-2022
Last April 2017, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order No. 16, “Directing All Government Departments and Agencies, Including GOCCs and LGUs to adopt the National Security Policy 2017-2022 in the Formulation and Implementation of Their National Security Related Plans and Programs” which stipulates thus: “Whereas, consistent with the President’s vision of a more secure, peaceful and prosperous Filipino nation,…
NFWM Clinches PN 2018 Unit Award
Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) received the Best Operating Forces Unit Award during the 120th Philippine Navy’s Founding Anniversary in June. President Rodrigo Duterte personally congratulated NFWM Commander RAdm Rene V Medina while FOIC VAdm Robert Empredad attached the streamer to NFWM’s standard in a ceremony held in Davao. As the Philippine Navy marked its 120th Founding Anniversary with an…
Will the Philippines Be Involved in a Conflict Between the United States and North Korea?
In the Korean War (1950-1953) between the United Nations coalition led by the military forces of the United States and South Korea against North Korea backed up by Chinese troops, the Philippines sent 3 battalions of some 7,000 personnel equipped, supplied, placed by and fought under U.S. operational command (The PMA post-WWII Class of 1951 had an early graduation, were…
NAMEI Polytechnic Institute and the Shipbuilding & Repair Industry
INTRODUCTION Don Felix B. Padilla was the first Filipino to graduate as a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, USA). Don Felix returned to the Philippines to share his learning and knowledge with his country and established the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Institute (NAMEI) in 1947. He wanted to give his fellow Filipinos…
Spotlight on Autonomous Ships at IMO Meeting
On 16-May-2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) –responsible for regulating international shipping– began efforts on the regulation of autonomous ships with the 99th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 99). The MSC began looking at how the safe, secure and environmentally sound operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) may be introduced in IMO instruments. With a myriad of…
Denmark Presents Plan to Ratify HNS Convention
Denmark presented its plan to ratify the 2010 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS). The Convention aims to provide compensation for costs, including clean up and restoring the environment in case of an incident involving HNS cargoes. With entry into force of the convention, access…
Martek Calls for Urgent ISPS Review
Commercial shipping is waking up to the growing threat that drones pose to the safety and security of vessels. Terrorist use of drones deploying explosives is already well documented and the potential for a drone to deliver an explosive charge through the deck of an oil/gas tanker or on a passenger ship with potentially catastrophic results is a stark reality….
Guerrero Supports New Performance Indicator for Maritime Safety
The Philippines through MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo B Guerrero conveyed on 02-July-2018 its support for the inclusion of “number of serious incidents per year, and per vessel type” as a new performance indicator for maritime safety in the Strategic Plan, 2018-2023 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which held the 120th Session of the IMO Council, London, United Kingdom from…
PPA Sets Sight on Infra Build-Up as it Marks Its 44th Founding Anniversary
Marking its 44th anniversary on this day, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has been making big investments in terms of port infrastructure in its bid to achieve its vision by 2020. It is also in line with the current thrust of the Duterte administration to realize the golden age of infrastructure and be at par with our international partners. Incidentally,…
The Port of Surigao
The Port of Surigao serves as the Base Port of the Port Management Office of Surigao. Located in Surigao City on the northeastern coast of Mindanao, the Port of Surigao lies in a protected cove, making it an all-weather facility and ideal port of refuge. The Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao has jurisdiction over various ports in the provinces…
TRENDS REPORT 2018: Disruptive Technology for Defence Transformation
Reflecting on Last Year’s Conference The inaugural Disruptive Technology for Defence Transformation conference took place in London on 24-25 October 2017 and examined how disruptive technology will transform defense capability and operations. It was attended by: senior military from many countries; NATO: technology firms such as Google and QinetiQ; leading aerospace and defense companies including Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems;…
Inmarsat FleetBroadband Takes Major Step Toward Formal GMDSS Approval
The role of Inmarsat as the sole provider of satellite technology performing to Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) standards is set for advancement after an IMO Sub-Committee decided to greenlight consideration of both FleetBroadband and Fleet One for formal approval. To date, Inmarsat is the only company that has received approval from the International Maritime Organization to provide…
The Importance of Crew in Energy Efficient Shipping
“The most important aspect of saving fuel and energy on board a vessel, is the crew,” Peter Knudsen, managing director at Blueflow Energy Management told VPO Global. The maritime industry has taken huge strides to improve the performance of the global fleet with the development of new technologies, increasing quantities of data, and improved connectivity between ship and shore. Advanced…
NEXUS for GEMINI: Van Oord Takes Export Cable-Laying Into its Own Hands
Theo de Lange, Commercial Manager, Van Oord Offshore Wind Projects, says that despite some delayed projects, Europe’s Offshore Wind cable-laying demand is expected to grow rapidly. “UK Round 3 projects, but also German and probably also Dutch projects, are moving farther away from shore, into deeper waters. That means those vessels doing the cable-laying need to be suitable for rougher…
Future of the Fjords All-Electric Vessel Launched in Norway
A fully electric zero-emission passenger vessel, Future of the Fjords, has been launched in Norway. It is the result of a collaboration between several industry partners that wanted to develop an environmentally conscious, no emissions vessel. Comprising an electric propulsion system and a Power Dock floating charging station that can take on grey and black water to ensure no sewage…
Dutch Police Order Six Patrol Vessels from Damen
The Dutch Police has ordered six patrol vessels from Damen Shipyards for its ‘Zeehavenpolitie’ and ‘Landelijke Eenheid’ units. Three of the new vessels are seagoing (Stan Patrol 2506), while the other three are for the inland waterways (Stan Patrol 2005). All six will be built at Damen’s headquarters in Gorinchem in the Netherlands, and are due to be delivered between…
Swedish ferry tests Volvo Penta IMO Tier III solution
With 114 journeys every day, the Svanhild ferry has a heavy workload in transporting passengers and cars between two Swedish islands. The roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel makes 57 return trips between the islands of Lilla Varholmen and Bjorko, west of Gothenburg. Each journey on the 900m route takes around five minutes, but with such a busy schedule, time is of…
Coastal Environment Protection in Manila Bay
What once was a beacon of loveliness that would first catch your eye with its glorious sunset is now a down drum of uncleanliness, an eyesore of unseemliness that casts a sty. This is not the result of a mere slip-up but rather continuous discharge of toxic oil, industrial effluents, agricultural runoffs, untreated wastewater, and city garbage over the decades….