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Study on Methods and Considerations for the Determination of GHG Reduction for International Shipping

Executive Summary. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships which envisages to “reduce GHG emissions from international shipping and phase them out as soon as possible in this century.” It also expresses the ambition to: reduce CO2 emissions per transport…


Ground Breaking First Ammonia Engine Test Completed

Successful ammonia combustion in MAN B&W two-stroke engine marks ‘historic’ step for company and maritime sector MAN Energy Solutions has announced the successful first running of a test engine on ammonia at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC). The company reports the successful combustion was performed on a MAN B&W 2-stroke 4T50ME-X type and produced positive results with particularly promising data…


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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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Why PNOY and BBM Leaned on America, Not China

The world’s predominant superpower will always create the conditions to perpetuate its global dominance and weaker nations will always be subsumed by these conditions. Like it or not, that’s just how the world works. It was true during the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires as it was true during the recent British and American empires. How do superpowers create the…


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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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The Philippine Blue Economy Insights and Foresights Presented at the Beacon Expo 2023, on 8-September-2023

INTRODUCTION. To all distinguished guests from various agencies of government and the private sector, subject matter experts, and all  our attendees, a pleasant morning to all. Foremost, I would like to congratulate the Maritime League and the Department of Transportation for spearheading the Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference, or BEACON 2023. It is my distinct honor to represent the…


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Our Mine Warfare Force

INTRODUCTION. A country with a 36,289-kilometer coastline and the world’s second largest archipelago, the Philippines’ lifeline is the sea, thus utilizing it to our advantage is a primary mission as part of today’s area denial counter to an invader. The country having a number of straits, inlets, bays and passageways can use these features in delaying the enemy’s advance. The…


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P3 Insights On Dealing With The Shipping Container Crisis

As a result of the recent pandemic, maintaining the chain of supply has proven to be difficult for businesses across a wide range of industries. At the peak COVID-19 lockdowns, demand for many products decreased, but as the world returns to normal and demand continues to increase dramatically, the shipping industry finds itself struggling to keep up. Cost per container…


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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…


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New Appointments at PCG and MARINA

The President appointed two senior maritime officials under the Department of Transportation to lead the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Administration (MARINA) in October and December last year. The new Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard is Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan PCG who assumed after the retirement of Admiral Artemio Abu in October. He was Deputy…


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Maritime League VP Wins Anew as AGFO Chairman and President

The Maritime League’s Vice President and Maritime Review Editorial Board Chairman, Vice Admiral Emilio C Marayag Jr AFP (Ret), secured anew the trust and  confidence of the members of the Association of General and Flag Officers, Inc. during its Annual Membership Meeting and Election held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on November 24, 2023. He clinched the Association’s top position…




Rightsizing and Retooling Defense Forces

In April this year, the President ordered a review of numerous government positions for rightsizing to “upgrade and reskill the workforce in order to improve state services and programs.” The call emanated from the President’s 2022 State of the Nation Address. Consequently several legislators proposed a National Rightsizing Act that is well-aligned with the Revised Administrative Code. The review and…


The 3 Golden Rules of Effective Shipping Communications

Digitization has brought massive benefits to the shipping industry. It’s now possible for charterers to make million-dollar deals in a matter of minutes using email alone. But recent years have also seen exponential growth in the volume of messages that shippers send and receive. Charterers, brokers, operators and port agents can sift through thousands of emails a day, and missing…


Why We Should Be Cautious with Invasive Mussels

Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. Their name comes from the dark zig-zagged stripes on each shell. The zebra mussel [Pallas, 1771] is a shellfish named for the striped pattern of its shell. This mussel is typically found attached to objects, surfaces, or other mussels by threads extending from underneath the shells….


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…


Better Monitoring and Data Gathering of Human Rights at Sea Necessary

Wilton Park published its report on “Human Rights Law at Sea,” discussing the key themes of discussion, problems identified, and recommendations for possible ways forward concerning human rights protections at sea. The Wilton Park “Human Rights Law at Sea” Conference, organized in partnership with Human Rights at Sea Advisory Board member Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG, OBE, FLSW, was initiated as a…


Use of Biofuels in Shipping

The use of biofuels or biofuel blends is one of many ways to comply with the IMO’s strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, and DNV has seen an increasing interest in these new fuels. This news aims to clarify the regulatory status and other considerations on the usage of such fuels. DNV has received many requests regarding…


Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment 2022 Report

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has a strong tradition of collaborating with owners and operators in the Marine Environment (ME) to provide relevant information about best practices to secure their critical systems. Since December 2020, Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER) has vastly grown its presence and increased its operational tempo to protect cyber systems underpinning the ME. The observations…


Why PNoy and BBM Leaned on America, Not China

The world’s predominant superpower will always create the conditions to perpetuate its global dominance and weaker nations will always be subsumed by these conditions. Like it or not, that’s just how the world works. It was true during the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires as it was true during the recent British and American empires. How do superpowers create the…


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…


Navy Ship Converts Seawater to Freshwater for Mt. Mayon Evacuees

The BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), one of the Philippine Navy’s capital ships under the Operational Control (OPCON) of Naval Forces Southern Luzon, is now at Albay to supply the fresh water needs of evacuees affected by Mt. Mayon’s eruption using an onboard Reverse Osmosis Desalination System. Said deployment is being realized as committed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr during…



DELTAMARIN & BAR Tech Hull Collaborate to Harness Wind Power

KEY TAKEAWAYS DELTAMARIN and BAR Technologies’ new Aframax/LRII build design improves current performance by 15% through wind propulsion. Rising uptake of wind propulsion technology underlines the cargo shipping industry’s commitment to decarbonization and green innovation. The focus on hull designs tailored for wind power is the next step in the development of wind propulsion. Naval architects DELTAMARIN and innovative marine…