November 2018


Lingayen Gulf: A Glimpse of Maritime History

Lingayen Gulf, where the famous Hundred Islands National Park lies, is one of the nation’s historical bodies of water. It not only provides a source of livelihood, from fishing to tourism to the coastal cities and municipalities of Pangasinan province but also an ideal venue for naval exercises including amphibious landings. Lingayen town is the provincial capital and lends its…


The BOL: We Got Our Indigenous History all wrong

When spokesmen of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) earlier talked about the Peace Process with the MILF, they often went into a lecture on Philippine history, and repeat what our Islamic brethren have always claimed and like to hear: Christian Filipinos have continuously been exploiting them together with other indigenous tribes. Other indigenous tribes?…


138th Maritime Forum

The 138th Maritime Forum was hosted by DENR Secretary Gen Roy Cimatu, and chaired by Maritime League President Commo Carlos L Agustin AFP(Ret) on 19-October-2018 at DENR HQ, Manila. Guest speakers Dr Cora Claudio; CDR Carter Luma-ang, NAMRIA,; Laguna Lake representative Jose Salandan; Ambassador Vidal Querol (Retired PNP Director), as well as Trustees and members of the Maritime League were…



Stella Maris – Star of the Sea

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, is Stella Maris – The Star of the Sea. Mary is the daughter of St. Anne and St. Joachim. Both her parents descended from the Royal House of David from the land of Judah. Her father was a shepherd. Her name is Miryam in…


World’s Oldest Shipwreck Found Intact in the Black Sea

The British-led Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (Black Sea MAP) claims to have found the world’s oldest intact wreck, an ancient Greek sailing vessel that was radiocarbon dated back to 400 BC, making the shipwreck over 2,400 years old. The wooden hull is quite well preserved because it had been lying below the surface of the Black Sea about 2…


Guidelines for Implementing Welfare Aspects of the Maritime Labour Convention

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have jointly released new Guidelines for implementing the Welfare Aspects of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006, the MLC aims to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection and enforcement of the rights of seafarers and to establish a level playing field…


Slavery Persists in Thai Fishing Vessels

Between 2014 and 2016, Greenpeace had been tracking Thailand’s rogue fishing vessels, and found that as many as 76 vessels with Thai flags had moved their operations to the Saya de Malha Bank area off the coast of east Africa to avoid being policed on illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and slave seafaring. Despite all international pressure on Thailand,…


Steps to Creating Safety

At the last SAFETY4SEA Conference, Capt. Hans Hederström, Managing Director, Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART), discussed steps to create a safety environment in shipping. Among the most important things, he stressed, “The Captain has the role of a leader instead of an operator, willing to delegate and coach officers. Combining voyage planning and Bridge Resource Management, and effective communication…


Peacetime Records of Submarine Disaster other than Predicted Wartime Losses

INTRODUCTION This Article is a product of the research work conducted by the author to highlight the list and circumstances behind various events of submarine losses that happened during peacetime from CY2000 to CY2017. During this period, it is noted that submarine disasters and accidents occurred to navies of countries that are considered to have seapower and long experience over…


PCG Warns of Impending Kidnapping by ASG

On 30-October-2018, the ReCAAP ISC piracy reporting center warned that a faction of the ASG is preparing to launch another round of pirate attacks in the waters off Sabah. According to ReCAAP, the PCG believes that 10 ASG members are planning to conduct kidnappings in East Sabah “at any opportune time.” The ASG fighters do not have specific targets but…


Renaming of U.S Pacific Command to Indo-Pacific Command Makes Sense

Last May, Secretary of Defense James Mattis retitled Pacific Command (PACOM), the largest of the six U.S. unified combatant command to United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The area of responsibility remains unchanged for the former PACOM. The decision to retitle is in alignment with the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Moreover, the retitling is fitting in the…


Passenger Ferry Launched in Davao to GenSan, Iloilo, and Manila

On 28-October-2018, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) together with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will re-open the Davao-General Santos-Iloilo Passenger Shipping Route. The re-establishment of ferry operations from Manila to Davao and vice versa is expected to address the lack of an accessible route that has been unavailable for a long time. It also…


PAL’s Mabuhay Maritime Ferry Service to Kalibo-Boracay

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is venturing into the maritime sector, and will soon launch a ferry service between Kalibo and Boracay. Tourists coming from Kalibo, Aklan will soon have a more plush and comfortable option of travel to the world-famous Boracay Island. The concept of the ferry service was disclosed to the media on October 23, just a few days before…


Submarine Effectiveness and Sea Areas of Operations

INTRODUCTION A submarine is a hunter killer for as long as she can maintain her stealth. However, when HER PRESENCE in the immediate vicinity of the sea area is detected, then she looses her invincibility and the effective use of her weapons is denied. The submarine becomes the hunted. The exact coordinates or location of the submarine in terms of…


The Port of Cagayan De Oro

The Port of Cagayan de Oro is situated in Cagayan de Oro City, the capital of Misamis Oriental and the regional center of Northern Mindanao. It is located in the Northern Coast of Mindanao within Macajalar Bay, near the mouth of the Cagayan de Oro River. It faces northwest and is protected to the east by a stretch of coast…


Sea Level Rise and The Philippine Beaches

The Philippines is endowed with thousands of beautiful beaches. Except for the Cordilleras, there are beach destinations in all regions. Coastal attractions can be found from the northernmost islands of Batanes to the southernmost parts of Tawi-Tawi. The Philippines is one of the favorites of foreign tourists, and beaches still remain as their top destination. Statistics show that the lion’s…


GoodShipping Program Achieves First Fossil-Free Ocean Freight Transport

In the Netherlands, the GoodShipping Program bunkered the first batch of biofuels into a container vessel that otherwise would have entirely run on fossil fuels. The first 5 pioneering cargo shippers to join the program are Tony’s Chocolonely, Dopper, Blygold, Magic Marine, and Mystic. Altogether, they avoided over40 tons of CO2 emissions and significantly reduced local emissions like sulphur, soot…


Global Coral Reefs are in Danger

Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface area, forming the largest habitat on the planet. Coastal and shallow-water areas contain some of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs. The 7000 islands of the Philippines are home to an enormous number of coral reef systems that not only contribute to global atmosphere health…


Decongesting the Marikina River

Marikina City, the shoe capital of the Philippines, is located by the banks of the Marikina River and is thus regularly prone to flooding and is also at risk from sea level rise. Marikina River flows into the Pasig River, which ultimately flows out to Manila Bay. During the typhoon season between August and November, floodwaters overflow into the riverbanks…


What is Ocean Noise?

Ocean noise refers to sounds made by human activities that can interfere or obscure the ability of marine animals to hear natural sounds in the ocean. Many marine organisms rely on their ability to hear for their survival. Sound is the most efficient means of communication underwater and is the primary way that many marine species gather and understand information…