Local shipping industry will continue to lose from the airline industry unless services offered by vessel operators becomes at par with that of the airlines. In a Passenger Service Rating System (PSRS) conducted by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) recommended that local liners need to shape up to compete with the domestic air carriers. Under the PSRS, vessel operators only…
Mr. Koji Sekimizu of Japan, who is currently Director of IMO’s Maritime Safety Division has been elected as the Secretary- General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), for a 4-year term effective 1 January 2012. Sekimizu edged out five other candidates, including our own Neil Frank Ferrer and the nominees of the Re- public of Korea, Spain, USA and Cyprus….
In yet another pioneering endeavor, Compass Training Center recently held the first ever Danish Medical Care Course in the Philippines last August 29, with a pilot class of 12 participants from TORM Philippines. The course was a huge success and was conducted by Mr. Rene Gyaard and Mr. Kent Jensen, experienced nurses and licensed by the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA)….
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) will soon take delivery of eight brand new rubber tired gantries (RTG) to support the Manila International Container Terminal’s (MICT) new Berth 6 operation that is scheduled for early next year. An investment worth $10.7 million, the new RTGs will arrive in two batches beginning June next year in time for the startup…
The Board of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has modified and approved the detailed development design of Terminal 1 of the North Port, formerly North Harbor, submitted by operator Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI). The Board has likewise extended the timeline in finishing the development, which only covers Terminal 1 or the provision on the Passenger Terminal…
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) recently serviced the MSC Ukraine, the largest vessel to dock in the Black Sea coast of the Republic of Georgia. “We are honored to have the MSC Ukraine here as it shows our capability to service new generation vessels,” says Capt. Jan Nowak, BICT chief executive officer and general…
Maersk Line, the world’s largest containerized cargo carrier, has provided Philippine shippers uninterrupted service to Europe and other ports in Asia with the introduction of a new service. Dubbed as Daily Maersk, the service offers daily cut-offs from different strategic ports in Asia and fixed transportation time providing unprecedented frequency and absolute reliability. In a statement Maersk Line Philippines explained…
Philippines largest shipyard operator Hanjin Heavy Industries-Philippines (HHIP) has reserved an additional 150 hectares of land for the expansion of its Subic yard in its bid to handle swelling orders for new buildings as well as other projects. The expansion, which has an estimated investment cost of about $1 billion, is being geared towards the platform for the new Malampaya…
Last 18 August, FVR keynoted the 6th Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation (PBGEC) Forum in Nanning, Guangxi Province, and People’s Republic of China upon the invitation of the People’s Government of Guangxi and the China Development Institute. The PBGEC was established in July 2006 to reinforce the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, boost bilateral and sub-regional economic cooperation, and speed…
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recommended seven corrective measures on occupational safety and health which the Keppel Subic Shipyard, Inc. management should implement to avoid the recurrence of the recent mishap in the said shipyard. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the seven measures by DOLE resulted from the investigation of the Department’s inspection team which was…
Aside from the opportunities in shipbuilding, former President Fidel V. Ramos identified two more growth areas for the maritime industry—reclamation and smelting. Speaking before the members of the Maritime League as well as other invited guest in a breakfast forum recently, Ramos stressed that foreign counterparts are not needed in these projects as it can be done “All Pinoy”. “We…
Stakeholders in the maritime industry has again called on the Philippine government to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC 2006) in order that it will be one of the thirty ratifying countries required for the convention to take effect. The campaign for the early ratification MLC2006 is the focus of this year’s celebration of the 16th National Seafarers’…
A strong blend of respected international speakers, a thought-provoking agenda and the presence of leading industry players is turning the 12th Asia Pacific Manning and Training Conference into one of the most important international conferences to be held in the Philippines this year. The event will bring to Manila more than 350 participants representing 40 of the biggest international maritime…
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has revoked the 50-50 sharing agreement in arrastre fees in all ports nationwide in instances where cargo handlers (CH) uses the equipment of shipping lines in its bid to force cargo handling service operators to procure their own facilities. “In this regard, PPA MC No. 01-2009 prescribing the 50-50 sharing on the arrastre fees in…
Sister firms Lorenzo Shipping Corp. (LSC) and NMC Container Lines (NMC) have formed a joint venture to handle all the companies’ cargo handling chores nationwide. The JV, which will be named One Team Services, Inc., will be a 50-50 sharing agreement between the two Magsaysay-owned local cargo handling operators. “One Team Services, Inc. will develop competencies to eventually handle the…
Domestic shipping giant Negros Navigation Co. (Nenaco) has purchased another vessel to further improve its fleet and maintain its lead over its nearest counterpart. The new vessel is also expected to increase the capacity of its passage sector as well as the capacity of its cargo sector wherein Nenaco is focusing at the moment. According to Nenaco chair Sulficio Tagud,…
The STCW convention, mainly addressing the competency and training standards for crew on board merchant ships, was amended in Manila, June of 2010 where it received a thorough overhaul. The convention first saw daylight in 1978, and then again in 1995 with the current convention which has been serving its purpose well by aligning training and certification standards across the…
As April ended and May started, ships that had called at Japanese ports post-radiation leaks finally found their way to European and US ports. And what greeted them was a disjointed mix of reactions and confused strategies on screening and decontamination plans. Tactics ranged from outright expulsion and outside port limits radiation checks, to random spot checks and written guarantees….
Atty. Juan C. Sta. Ana visited Bicol on March 15-16, 2011, marking his third out-of-town trip since his appointment as PPA General Manager. Accompanied by AGM for Corporate Affairs & Special Projects/Port District Manager for Southern Luzon, Hector E. Miole, Sta. Ana led the launching of the Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) service along the route connecting the Ports of Nato to…
On May2, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by gunshot wounds to the head and chest during a raid on his compound in Pakistan. This death of the founder of al-Qaeda, the ultra-militant Islamist organization, will carry mixed results globally. The impact to South East Asia is a high probability of terrorist attack(s) targeted against the maritime community in the…
With China’s domestic rail network already developing at a rapid pace, the Chinese government is planning to go international, with plans underway to create a regional rail network stretching as far as Singapore. Strategically positioned in south-western China, Kunming is set to become the key regional hub connecting China and Southeast Asia. The planned railway network will help boost trade…
The International Maritime Employers Cooperation (IMEC), the largest international organization dealing exclusively with maritime industrial relations, held its annual general meeting in London following a meeting of the IMEC Board of Directors held on the previous day. During the meeting, many areas of interest to the maritime sector were discussed including piracy, the ongoing International Bargaining Forum negotiations and the…
In the last issue we talked about the departure of the Philippine Navy contingent that was going to San Diego in connection with the PN’s acquiring the USCG Cutter Hamilton and some concerns expressed by some in the PN forum interested in development of the Navy. The update on this is that the PN contingent would take over officially on…
Asian Terminals Inc., the country’s second largest port operator, said that it has extra cash for possible port acquisition this year after the company disposed its grains terminal last year. Eusebio Tanco, ATI president, told reporters that the company has around P1 billion to spend for port acquisition for this year and expand its presence in the country. “Any opportunity…
In anticipation of the influx of passengers that will be passing through the ports with the upcoming opening of classes come June, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) are continuously and strictly adopting appropriate measures to ensure the safety, security and convenience of the passengers, ships and cargoes in the ports. Among the measures that shall be continuously undertaken especially during…