Stories

Ship-Design, Shipbuilding 22-Nov-2017

Hempel Launches New Anti-fouling Coatings Delivering Outstanding ROI and Flexibility

Leading global coatings manufacturer Hempel is launching two new premium antifouling coatings, Globic 9500M and Globic 9500S. The coatings offer customers a potential 2.5 per cent reduction in speed loss. This equates to significant fuel savings and lower CO2 emissions improving the operational efficiency of a vessel and minimising the operator’s environmental footprint. This next generation coating series builds on Hempel’s…

Marine Environment 22-Nov-2017

Operational Plan for The Manila Bay Coastal Strategy: Implementing the Supreme Court Order to Cleanup, Rehabilitate and Preserve Manila Bay

The Supreme Court rendered a decision on 18 December 2008 ordering 13 government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation. The case stemmed from a complaint filed…

Marine Environment 22-Nov-2017

Mangrove Forests in the Philippines

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was recently mentioned on UNTV News on 05-September-2017 as continuously pushing for the periodic planting of mangroves. DENR is targeting to plant mangroves in more than 50K hectares of swamps, especially in areas frequently hit by typhoons. DENR spends roughly Php50K per hectare as part of the National Greening Program to plant…

Sustainable Fishery 22-Nov-2017

Friend of the Sea Awards Italy’s Generale Conserve for its Tuna Zero Waste Project

Friend of the Sea awarded Generale Conserve, one of Italy’s major canned seafood company, with the Sodalitas Social Award 15th edition in the category Sustainable Innovation and Production Processes with its brand ASdoMAR for Tuna Zero Waste project. Friend of the Sea welcomes this prestigious recognition, as ASdoMAR was the first Italian brand in the industry to require an independent…

Coast Guard, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security 22-Sep-2017

PCG Foundation Anniversary

The nation and its maritime community join the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in commemorating its founding anniversary in October. Originally created as a civilian bureau in 1901 by the United States, the organization assumed its military character in 1967 by virtue of Republic Act 5173. It used to be one of the Philippine Navy’s major units until its separation in…

Coast Guard, Profiles 22-Sep-2017

Meet PCG’s New Officer-in-Charge

Commodore Joel Sarsiban Garcia PCG, PhD, HD, Al-Haj is a graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and took up Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, major in Navigational Science. He is currently taking up Bachelor of Laws, Facultad De Derecho Civil, Royal & Pontifical at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a Doctor of Philosophy in Public…

Events 22-Sep-2017

Maritime Conference 2017 Synthesis

The Maritime Conference 2017 was held on 12-July-2017. It was organized by the Maritime League led by its President Commo. Carlos L. Agustin (AFP Ret), and co-sponsored by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources led by its Director Commo. Eduardo Gongona (AFP Ret). The conference took place in partnership with the PhilMarine 2017 organized by Fireworks…

Chairman's Page 22-Sep-2017

The Haunting Fake News

As I was thinking of how to start this topic, I came across an article written by Cheyenne MacDonald for the London Daily Mail (based on a study published in the journal Geology) that was forwarded to me about 6 months ago (I have a file on things of interest) on The Five Great Extinction Events: Five times, a vast…

Maritime Forum 22-Sep-2017

Proceedings of 123rd Maritime Forum

The 123rd Maritime Forum was held at the NDCP last 30-June-2017, 0800-1200H. The Maritime Forum is one of the activities the Maritime League, “a non­profit Filipino maritime foundation was established in 1990 to address the need for an organization, which will help spur progress in the maritime sector and advance the interest of the maritime profession and the maritime industry…

Maritime Security 22-Sep-2017

Terrorist Safe Havens Are In The Mind, And Cannot Be Beaten Militarily

Counterterrorism operations today often entail attempts to remove territorial “safe havens” for Islamic extremism. This is seen in fights against the Islamic State in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and most recently, the Philippines. These fights are often government-led sieges of cities, like Raqqa, Mosul, and Marawi, where Islamic State has taken control, or at least has a strong presence. But by…

Maritime Security 22-Sep-2017

OPV: The Answer to Maritime Security in the GCC Region

The versatile offshore patrol vessel may prove to be a vital solution to the diverse maritime threats in the GCC (Gulf Cooperating Council) Region. GULF ARAB STATES face significant challenges today, ranging from a slump of oil prices to rising incidents of domestic terrorism. However, the critical need for maritime security is one that is given precedence because of a…

Words From FVR 22-Sep-2017

The US and North Korea: Peace in the Asia-Pacific?

During the past two weeks, events on the international scene particularly within the Asia-Pacific arena, provided an uncanny (but welcome) reprise of FVR’s younger days, which led this columnist to ask, “Does history really repeat itself?” In answer, allow us to share with our readers some personal landmarks along life’s journey. Indeed, history does in this particular episode, but hopefully,…

Marine Technology 22-Sep-2017

Crowdsourced Bathymetry: Supporting Progress or Threatening Security

For the past few decades, the world experienced a big shift on how information is gathered and disseminated. The internet became a connection which is virtually unlimited. Today, it is norm to have free information – something which is uncommon during the days prior to the conception of the internet. Almost every information is already posted in the world wide…

Marine Technology 22-Sep-2017

First Remotely Operated Commercial Vessel Demonstrated in Copenhagen

Rolls-Royce and towage operator Svitzer have successfully demonstrated what they claim to be the world’s first remotely operated commercial vessel in Copenhagen Harbour, Denmark. One of Svitzer´s tugs, the 28m Svitzer Hermod, safely conducted a number of remotely controlled maneuvers, operated from the quay side in Copenhagen Harbour by the vessel’s captain, stationed at the ship’s remote base at Svitzer…

Marine Environment 22-Sep-2017

BISON C-Lift P32 Creates New Container Logistics Possibilities

BISON, the container tech company, this week launched the C-Lift P32, a portable container lift system that equips shipping, logistics and military operators to lift containers in any location. Recognizing that conventional container handling equipment is typically big, heavy and expensive, BISON has introduced a compact, portable and more economic alternative aimed at extending the benefits of intermodal logistics to…

Maritime Safety 22-Sep-2017

Philippine Register of Shipping Safety Drive

The Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS), the country’s first and largest classification society, has embarked on a rebranding while expanding its services to support its aim of safer shipping and increase its client base in the growing domestic fleet. Engr. William Hernandez, president of Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS), says the service expansion is to meet the demand from the…

Maritime Safety 22-Sep-2017

Transas Survival Craft Simulator Eliminates Drill Risks

Transas has introduced a new Survival Craft Simulator (SCS) to prepare crew for the multitude of possible scenarios that can occur during lifeboat drills, aiming to address one of the most notorious sources of accidents in shipping without exposing personnel to physical danger. Effective survival craft training is essential to prepare crew for a disaster at sea but practical lifeboat…

Ship-Design, Shipbuilding 22-Sep-2017

5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Reduce Your Ship’s Fuel Consumption and Emissions

Just 16 of the world’s largest ships are still producing as much sulphur pollution as all the world’s cars! So, what’s the key to ‘green shipping’? How do we reduce fuel consumption & emissions? Here we share the top 5 technologies that the largest shipping companies across the globe are using to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of their operations,…

Marine Environment 22-Sep-2017

Seahorses in the Philippines

There are 54 species worldwide of marine fishes called the Seahorse belonging to the genus Hippocampus, of which 14 species are known to live in Southeast Asian waters, and 10 species are known to inhabit Philippine waters. “Hippocampus” comes from two ancient Greek words, hippos meaning “horse,” and kampos meaning “sea monster.” The Seahorse has a head and neck with…

Maritime Security, National Affairs 31-Jul-2017

Rearing A Maritime Nation

The presentation of some groups working to promote awareness of the archipelagic and maritime nature of the nation is one of the highlights of the recent Maritime Forum held last month at the National Defense College of the Philippines. This could have been triggered by the developing situations in the South China Sea and Benham Rise in the Philippine Sea….

Events 31-Jul-2017

Philippine Maritime Conference at the 4th PHILMARINE 2017

On 12-July-2017 The Maritime League, represented by Commo Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret), and its co-host the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), represented by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, in partnership with Fireworks Philippines, will sponsor a full-day maritime conference entitled “Maritime Forces: Naval Defense and Non-Traditional Roles.” Five notable speakers from the maritime sector will share…

Events 31-Jul-2017

Philippine Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program

Defending one’s homeland is one of the primordial duties of the state. Our Constitution mandates the creation of a citizen armed force that consists of a small standing army and a sizeable reserve force. With a small regular armed force, our defense policy largely depends on three basic factors: the threats, the allies, and the technology. As many of us…

Chairman's Page 31-Jul-2017

Learning from Korea

On invitation from the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former DILG Sec Rafael M Alunan and I took on a very enlightening journey to revisit the Republic of Korea and review anew the various conditions and characteristics that surround the tremendous progress and development of that great country. The visit was arranged by ROK Ambassador to the PH Kim Jae…

Maritime Law 31-Jul-2017

An UNCLOS-based Durable Legal System for Regional Maritime Security and Ocean Governance for the Indo-Pacific Maritime Region (An enhanced maritime awareness agenda for the Maritime Forum)

Introduction The maritime issues under consideration in this article relates to the establishment of a legal order and durable regional ocean governance mechanism addressing non-traditional maritime security concerns, initially concentrated on the South China Sea giving prominence to a narrowed ASEAN-China context, but eventually extrapolated to a large maritime setting that is the seas of the ASEAN and the Central…