Maritime Review (Mar – Apr 2020 Issue)
(Click the cover to download the PDF version of the magazine.)
May 2020
A Tribute to Commo Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret),RIP, Chairman – Maritime Forum, President – Maritime League
A native of Manila, Commodore Carlos Leong Agustin AFP (Ret) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA in 1960. He took Weapons Systems Engineering at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA; Naval Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, UK; NR course in National Security Management at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces,…
Keeping Our US Alliance Alive
I cannot forget that final day in 1977 when we in the DND Strategic Studies Group (SSG) headed by then Col Salvador Regalado PAF that was specially created by DND Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, presented our final proposed draft of the revised PH-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) when, after the ensuing discussions, we were surprised by the position paper prepared…
Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA): Significant Change on the Horizon
Philippine President Duterte has recently forwarded notice to the United States (U.S.) his decision to terminate the current Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that has been in effect since 1999. This long-standing agreement is scheduled to renew or expire in August 2020. The concerns expressed by many -for or against this action- address many opinions of which I will try to…
Camacho Makes PH Naval History As First Female Commodore
A Philippine Navy officer made history as the first woman to become a Commodore (equivalent to Brigadier General or one-star rank in the Army, Air Force, and Marines). Promoted to the rank was Captain Luzviminda Camacho, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Office of Legislative Affairs. Aside from being the first woman to get the rank, Camacho…
In Focus: The WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations under the Economic and Social Council. Founded on 7-April-1948 its goal is to “ensure the attainment of all peoples of the highest possible level of health.” Its current mission is to “promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.” The WHO has 194 member states…
Impacts of COVID-19 on Global Trade & Transport
The Novel Coronavirus (CoVID-19) infection was first reported on 31-Dec-2019. The virus originated from Wuhan, China and quickly spread to coastal cities, and internationally. The South China Agricultural University reports their discovery of a 99% genetic match between CoVID-19 and a strain of the virus in pangolins. An earlier study published in Nature finds the probable origin of the virus…
The Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum
The Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum Foundation, Inc. (SCHMFI) is a formal institution based in Cebu City. It was created with the main task of building the first Chinese-Cebuano museum to showcase centuries of collaboration between the Chinese and Filipino people. The Foundation was established on September 2010, inspired by reflections during a Jesuit Chinese-Filipino Lay Apostolate conference that pointed to…
Col. Mariano G. Robles: Unsung Hero of the 10 BCT
Arduous Beginnings Nicknamed “Tangkad,” Col. Mariano G. Robles could easily be picked out in a crowd or even battlefield. But it was his sharp analytical mind and photographic memory that stood out even more than his 6’4” stature. His other nickname, “Long,” was both a reference to his towering height and his unheard of ability to hit long-range targets with…
The Problematic “West Philippine Sea”
All views expressed herein are the contributor’s and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which he has been, is now, or will be affiliated. Through Administrative Order (AO) No. 29 series of 2012 the Philippine State named the sea areas west of the Philippine archipelago as the ‘West Philippine Sea’. It is important to clarify what…
Zero-Emission Shipping: What’s in it for Developing Countries?
Emissions from ships are heavy contributors to global climate change and local air pollution, putting pressure on the environment and humans. A new generation of bunker fuels, called zero-emission fuels, can help to address this challenge while also creating a major business opportunity in developing countries. Currently, ships contribute about 2-3% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions —more than…
Mobile Protected Areas Are Needed To Protect Biodiversity In The High Seas
World leaders are currently updating the laws for international waters that apply to most of the world’s ocean environment. This provides a unique opportunity, marine scientists argue this week, to introduce new techniques that allow protected zones to shift as species move under climate change. In an article in the 17-January-2020 issue of Science, researchers make the case for the United…
The Poseidon Principles
The Poseidon Principles establish a framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of ship finance portfolios. They set a benchmark for what it means to be a responsible bank in the maritime sector and provide actionable guidance on how to achieve this. The Poseidon Principles are consistent with the policies and ambitions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), including…
Drones: From Trials To World’s First Drone Safety Standards
The era of digitalization has made room for Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUV) to take place and become a powerful tool for ports and the overall shipping industry, playing a major role in a variety of ‘shipping duties’, such as surveillance, safety, accident and pollution reporting, representing the importance of technology in shipping and making us wonder whether drones will be…
Marine Autonomy vs. Autopilot: Know the Differences
It’s no secret that today’s autopilot technology is an invaluable tool to both recreational boaters and commercial mariners. Autopilot systems enable a vessel to hold a course in light-to-moderate sea conditions. This functionality increases vessel course predictability, while reducing operator fatigue, a major causal factor in marine incidents. Like autonomous systems, autopilots are indefatigable and have an unlimited attention span…
AWEA & DOB Launch APAC Offshore Wind Academy
The Asia Wind Energy Association has partnered with Dutch De Oude Bibliotheek Academy (DOB-Academy) to launch a regional Academy for the fast-developing offshore wind industry in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Region. The Asia-Pacific Offshore Wind Academy would be set-up in Singapore and would provide educational services for the regional offshore wind industry. The Academy would provide offshore education for professionals in the region…
Wärtsilä To Supply World’s First Hybrid Powered Self-Discharging Bulk Carriers
The technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to provide the complete system design and full equipment scope for two new 9300 DWT self-discharging bulk carriers featuring hybrid propulsion. The ships will be the first of their kind to be fitted with a hybrid propulsion solution. They are being built for Norway’s Aasen Shipping at the Royal Bodewes Shipyard in the…
Port of Virginia and Ørsted Proceed with Plans for Offshore Wind Terminal
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced an agreement for Ørsted to lease a portion of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for offshore wind staging materials and equipment. If fully executed, the lease will run through at least 2026, during which time, Ørsted plans to install nearly 3,000 megawatts of wind energy projects in the US. The agreement between the Port of Virginia and Ørsted…
Siemens Gamesa To Build US’ Largest Offshore Wind Project
The offshore wind energy project will be located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach and produce enough energy to power 650,000 homes. The 2,600 (megawatt) MW project is expected to be completed in 2026 and will help Virginia State to create jobs, and achieve energy sustainability goals. “Virginia state agencies have been tasked to develop a plan to…
Visit Bohol
A visit to the Visayas is never complete unless you take a ferry ride from Cebu to Bohol. Upon arrival in Bohol, one is immediately enchanted by the blue sea and clear skies over the horizon. It’s rare to see these colors in a city jungle where the air is full of smog and emissions. First stop in beautiful Bohol…
2019 2nd Hottest Year on Record According to NASA & NOAA
According to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth’s global surface temperatures in 2019 were the second warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. Globally, 2019 temperatures were second only to those of 2016, and continued the planet’s long-term warming trend: the past five years have been the warmest of the last 140 years….
Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary
The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is located 5 kms east of Mactan Island. The Sanctuary is composed of the main island, Olango, and six nearby islets namely: Sulpa, Gilutongan, Nalusuan, Caohagan, Pangan-an, and Camungi. The total land area of Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 1,030 ha (2,500 acres). The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary falls under the jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu…
What is a Rossby Wave?
Rossby waves naturally occur in rotating fluids. Within the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere, these waves form as a result of the rotation of the planet. These Rossby waves play a significant role in shaping weather and climate. An animation from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center shows both long and short atmospheric waves as indicated by the jet stream. The colors represent the speed of…
PCG and Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) Sign MOU
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance the country’s capability to respond to oil spill in the morning of 24-February-2020. Vice Admiral George Ursabia of the PCG – Marine Environment Protection Command (MEPCOM) expressed his gratitude to the OSRL for their willingness to assist the PCG…
What is LNG?
Natural gas, which took over millions of years of transformation of organic materials, such as plankton and algae, is made up of about 95% Methane, which is the cleanest fossil fuel. The combustion of natural gas mainly emits water vapor and tiny amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Its CO2 emissions are 30%-50% lower than those produced by other combustible fuels, according…