Domestic Shipping

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Ten Trends Influencing Commercial Shipping

In a recently published report in June 2023, the World Maritime University studies and presents 10 trends influencing global commercial shipping. According to the Transport 2040 – Impact of Technology on Seafarers – The Future of Work Report, identifying global trends within the maritime industry is critically important since such knowledge helps stakeholders select trend relevant technologies. A Road Map…

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Philippine Navy Hosts the 17th Asean Navy Chiefs’ Meeting

The year 2023 is a monumental year for the Philippine Navy. What started as a revolutionary independent force that was founded by the first Philippine President, President Emilio Aguinaldo on May 20, 1898,[i] grew to become the country’s naval warfare service that celebrated its 125th anniversary last May 20, 2023. But before the celebration of its founding anniversary, the Philippine…


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The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is designed to provide comprehensive protection for seafarers before, during, and after employment especially in the event of maritime accidents, pandemics or epidemics, or other natural or manmade disasters. It codifies the rights of seafarers into a single reference law. Who are the seafarers in the Magna Carta. This Act shall cover Filipino…


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PPA Eyes 19 more Seaport Projects by End of 2023

16-AUGUST-2023, MANILA — Infrastructure in ports development nationwide will continue to accelerate in the coming months, as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gears toward the completion of another 19 seaport projects before the end of 2023, adding up to the 30 seaport projects already completed during the first year of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. PPA’s 19 seaport infrastructure projects…


IMO Considers STCW Training Provisions On Bullying and Harassment

STCW training provisions on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9), 6-10 February 2023, agreed to draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including…


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BEACON Expo 2023

In response to the growing opportunities in shipbuilding and waterfront development, The Maritime League as the organizing body, in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies, will be hosting the BEACON EXPO 2023 on 6-8 September, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines. This Conference and Exhibition, consistent with the…




Ship Operators Benefitted from Workshops Conducted by the OTS

Ship operators in Cebu benefitted from the recently conducted Ship Security Assessment (SSA) and Ship Security Plan (SSP) Development Workshops by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) at the Port of Cebu from June 08 to 10, 2022. The said workshops were free-of-charge. After a series of virtual meetings and roundtable discussions with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Maritime Industry…


SBMA and PNP-MG Partner to Provide Security for Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), through its Maritime Group (PNP-MG), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide better security for the waters of Subic Bay. The MOA signing transpired between SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino and PNP-MG Director Police Brigadier General Harold B. Tuzon, and was witnessed by Deputy…


After 45 years, a Philippine shipping line goes international!

We can all use a bit of good news at this time. First, some context. Since the pandemic started, there has been a scarcity of cargo container vans and international shipping lines calling on Philippine ports. This has caused our exporters to default on their delivery schedules. The default, in turn, caused their customers to withhold payments triggering cashflow problems…


New Pier, POB to Boost Traffic, Address Congestion at Lucena Port

25 SEPTEMBER 2021, LUCENA CITY—The Port Management Office of Marinduque/Quezon (PMO MarQuez) is anticipating bigger Ro-Ro traffic as the PMO unveils an additional pier and a POB facility at its Lucena port. With high concentration of passengers and rolling cargoes bound for Marinduque and Romblon, the new pier facility will address the congestion at the port as it offers additional…


MARINA Launches its Training Institute in Bacolod City

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), through a virtual soft launching, has announced on Thursday the opening of the MARINA Training Institute (MarTI) located in the four-story MARINA Regional Office – Western Visayas building situated inside the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. The MarTI, as an academic arm of the MARINA, is envisioned to be the country’s Maritime Innovation…


Update on Department of Transportation Projects

In between an important, symbolic landing at the runway of the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, and its inspection, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade was able to participate virtually in the Megaworld International Philippine Property Expo 2021 today, 30-July-2021, to give a bird’s eye view of the revolutionary transport infrastructure programs, projects, and initiatives rolling out in…


Three New Palawan Ports Start Operations

Three newly-completed seaport projects in Palawan-San Fernando in El Nido, Bataraza Port in Barangay Buliluyan, and Borac Port in Coron – were inaugurated on 19-March-2021. The projects are part of 19 seaport projects for Palawan, 13 of which are already completed and four more ongoing. The inauguration marks the start of operations for the new seaports seen to boost economic…


Proposed Bangsamoro Merchant Marine Cademy

The Bangsamoro Merchant Marine Academy’s mission is to: To provide quality maritime education and training to prospective seafarers in order to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become qualified and competent officer seafarers; To encourage the Filipino youth who dream to become a global maritime professionals; To provide all its graduates the skills and ability to be…



51 Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia and 2 Incidents in Batangas

ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) today released its Half-Yearly Report 2020 (January-June). Highlights of the Report, whose information is verified by the respective government agencies, also known as ReCAAP Focal Points, and regional authorities, are summarized below: Overall Situation 51 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 50 actual and 1 attempted incident) were reported in Asia during…


Vessel Call Optimization

Many actors including those[1] who participated in the recently published guide on “Just In Time” acknowledged the need for improved communication between ship and shore-side. Although, the guide focuses only on ships that sometimes wait due to the lack of updates from port stakeholders, it is also important and fair to remind that cooperation between shipping lines and port terminals…


Reefer Shipping to Outpace Dry Cargo Trade Despite Container Shortages

Growth in seaborne perishable cargo slowed in 2019 but is forecast to better weather the COVID-19 induced economic storm than the dry cargo trade given the broader resilience of the food supply chain. Meanwhile, availability of refrigerated container equipment is forecast to tighten as buoyant trade and continued modal shift boost expansion in reefer cargo carried by containerships, according to…



PPA’s 46 Years of Promoting Nation-Building Through integrity and dedicated public service in ports for every Filipino

The year 2020 was supposed to be a prosperous year for the entire world according to fortune-tellers. Everybody was upbeat. The business community, government economic leaders, and GOCCs like the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) were anticipating unprecedented opportunities ushered in by the new year and a new decade. And then, disaster struck. In the first quarter of the year alone,…


Excelerate Receives Notice To Proceed From The Philippines For Floating LNG Terminal

On 20-September-2019, Excelerate Energy L.P. (Excelerate) received the Notice to Proceed (NTP) from the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the Bay of Batangas per the DOE’s guidelines for “Rules and Regulation Governing the Philippine Natural Gas Industry.” The project, Luzon LNG, will supply natural gas, sourced from LNG, to…


World Maritime Theme for 2020: “Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet”

Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet has been selected as the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets. The IMO Council, meeting for its 122nd session…


ICTSI Manila Continues Equipment Roll-Out

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) recently took delivery of another new quay crane and eight new hybrid rubber tired gantries (RTGs) for its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT). The terminal now has the largest fleet of modern container-handling equipment in the Philippines with 18 quay cranes and 58 RTGs. Manufactured by ZPMC, the quay crane is part of…