Maritime Review (July – August 2021 Issue)
(Click the cover to download the PDF version of the magazine.)
The Culture of Maintenance
Before Congress abrogated the 1947 RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) the maintenance of most of the country’s defense equipment depended on the American logistics system. Some combatant ships and aircrafts were sent overseas for depot maintenance. Most spares came in handy with a robust supply system. In the 1960s the nation’s air force, with its Blue Diamond unit, and navy,…
CHINA: Understanding Its Strengths and Weaknesses
Chinese leader Xi Jinping promised his people that by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic, “China would become a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence and would build a stable international order in which China’s national rejuvenation would be fully achieved.” This statement alone is already pregnant with meaning. This article will attempt…
No Ordinary Boats: Cracking the Code on China’s Spratly Maritime Militias
A Chinese fishing vessel appears in a sensitive location —near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a South China Sea reef, or just offshore from a U.S. military base. Is it an “ordinary” fishing boat, or is it maritime militia? This straightforward question seldom yields straightforward answers. China does not publish a roster of maritime militia boats. That…
MARINES Facilitate the Surrender of 10 ASG Members and Supporters in Sulu
A total of ten (10) individuals surrendered to government authorities in Seit Lake, Poblacion l, Panamao Sulu on 23-April-2021. According to reports, of the ten (10) individuals, four (4) were identified to be regular members of the terrorist group under ASG sub-leader SABSIBAR BENCIO, and the others were ASG supporters, who are identified as: Marisa Marajan 35 years old, wife…
Safety of Life at Sea
In my previous contributions to the Maritime Review, I highlighted the importance of an all-government approach to national security in updating a National Defense and Act. In my second contribution which was about Maritime Governance and administration, I highlighted the fragmentation of our various agencies and recommended amending the executive order that created the Coast Watch System, and updating the…
Diesel Electric Submarines with Air Independent Propulsion Systems compared with Nuclear-powered Submarines
Introduction. The Diesel Electric Submarine was considered as a principal weapons system of naval warfare, especially in littoral waters. Submarine designers and builders focused their design in making them capable to operate, run silent and run deep, with increasing underwater endurance. Diesel Electric Submarines need to surface and link to the atmospheric oxygen to supply air for the generators to…
DA-BFAR Focuses on Resource Sustainability in WPS and Extends Livelihood Support to Fisherfolk
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is strongly committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring food security especially in this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleviating the economic conditions of the fisheries sector especially the fisherfolk, and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing among other challenges, that continue to hound the Philippine fisheries…
Preparing for the Worst
The worrisome situation that continues to intensify across the Indo-Pacific theater – India-China border, Taiwan Straits, East China Sea, South China Sea – is subverting diplomatic efforts to restore peace and order, and escalating the prospects of an armed conflict due to clashing core interests of the great powers between China and the US. While our interdependent foreign policy seeks…
Trees, Mangrove Planting Now Mandatory for Every PPA Contract or Permit Issued
True to its commitment to help promote environmental protection and sustainability, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has ordered the mandatory planting of trees and mangroves for every contract, accreditation and permits issued by the agency. The order took effect on the 2nd of February after the 15-day publication period reckoning from 19-January-2021. PPA Administrative Order No. 14-2020, signed by PPA…
Dragging Anchor: Is More Always Better?
“The more we work together, the merrier we’ll be.” Or so the popular lullaby goes. However this does not ring true for the Philippine domestic ships with an overwhelmingly large number of cadets onboard. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Report conducted last year states, “The team found cases in which 11, 16 or even 37 deck cadets were onboard…
New Age of Sail Looks to Slash Massive Maritime Carbon Emissions
If ocean shipping were a country, it would be the sixth-largest carbon emitter, releasing more CO2 annually than Germany. International shipping accounts for about 2.2% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.N. International Maritime Organization. But change is on the way. Wind, solar electric, and hydrogen-powered ships offer innovative low- or no-carbon alternatives to fossil fuel-powered cargo…
The Saga of Q-111 Luzon – The Second Philippine Motor Torpedo Boat that served Three Navies
On June 1939, the second Philippine Q-Boat arrived in Manila and was named Luzon after one of the three main Island groups of the country, and was given hull number Q-111. She is 10 feet longer than Q-112 and has a cruising speed of 41 knots with a crew of 2 Officers and 4 Enlisted Personnel. Q-111 was the squadron…
IMO Study: Shipping Emissions Rose By Almost 10% During 2012-2018 Period
The Fourth IMO GHG Study Executive Summary has been published. This study is the first iteration since the adoption of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships in 2018, under which IMO Member States have pledged to cut GHG emissions from international shipping and to phase them out as soon as possible. The study…
Maritime Review (May – June 2021 Issue)
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UNITY OF COMMAND – An Enduring Principle
French industrialist Henry Fayol, recognized by many as father of modern management and author of the book titled “Industrial and General Administration” published in 1916, identified 14 Principles of Management that serve as guidelines for managers to perform their duties and responsibilities. One of these principles is “unity of command.” Simply put, this principle means that subordinates must have, and…
The Presence of 250+ Chinese Ships in WPS – A Postscript
It would be best to assume that the U.S. would not respond immediately and militarily … A David armed with a sling shot poised to hurl stones at Goliath is a Biblical lore. The presence of an alarmingly big number of Chinese ships, as many as 250+, of which 40 were spotted on 21-March-2021 anchored at Juan Felipe Reef or…
Hamilton Class Weather High Endurance Cutter (WHEC) – Proven Suitability for the Missions of both Coast Guard and Navy
History The Hamilton WHEC was constructed beginning in the 1960s, and they were intended to fulfill both Coast Guard peacetime and wartime requirements, and serve alongside the Navy. During the Vietnam War, several types of vessels supported the “Operation Market Time,” provided patrol duties, boarding and inspection of North Vietnamese vessels and boats, conducted naval gunfire support, missions, and medical…
Aspects of the RP-US Defense Alliance
A Chinese embassy official once told a Philippine diplomat, “Why don’t you get closer to a friendly neighbour rather than a distant cousin?” Of course he was referring to the relationship between the Philippines and China vis a vis the former and the United States. On another occasion a US official, on the same topic similarly quipped, “Yes, you cannot…
THE DATU KALANTIAW CLASS FRIGATES
The Philippine Navy is one of five Asian navies that possessed the Cannon Class Destroyer Escort apart from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), Republic of China Navy (ROCN), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The Philippine Navy inducted into service its first Cannon Class Destroyer Escort (known in Filipino Naval Service as the…
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…
Embracing Eco Innovations as IMO 2030 Looms Large
Decarbonization remains the hot maritime topic this year as the clock ticks on reducing carbon intensity by 40 per cent. The need to comply with IMO 2030 is looming large for shipowners. Newbuild vessels are already expected to achieve compliance with the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). This initiative is designed to ensure newbuild vessels meet requisite levels of efficiency….
BFAR-USAID Study Calls for Public Support to Combat Illegal Fishing
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) released on 9-March-2021 the results of a study which quantified illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Philippines. The report identifies what more should be done to eradicate IUU fishing in Philippine waters. IUU fishing ranges from small-scale, unlawful domestic fishing to more…
INTEGRATED MARINE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SYSTEM (IMEMS): A Game-Changer in the Philippine Fisheries Resource Management
To further intensify the campaign against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF), the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is now implementing the Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System (IMEMS) Project, an innovative, optimized, and integrated monitoring system that expands and improves the Bureau’s current monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) program. The new MCS technology seeks…
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…