IS THIS HOW IT ALL STARTED? IS THIS HOW IT WILL END? The latest Base Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) website advertises the sale of Fort Abad: A BIT OF HISTORY. More than five centuries ago, in 1584, the Spanish Armada established “Fuerte de San Antonio Abad” in Manila way ahead of Fort San Felipe (1609) in Cavite, to protect the…
The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) is currently anticipating the delivery of three new Type 209/1400-class submarines from the South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). The service has also indicated aspirations to operate a fleet of either 10 or 12 underwater fighting platforms beyond 2024. What are the Indonesian government’s requirements for these…
PART I As clearly proven during the closing days of 2016 and early 2017, terrorism and violence around the world dominated the headlines. Not just the beleaguered Middle East, but also Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, France, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and even the U.S. were not spared wanton killings because of man’s inhumanity to fellowman. According…
Following its 2017 periodic audit, the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) has recently received its ISO 9001:2015 recertification issued by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and Germanischer Lloyd (GL) or DNV-GL. This second audit focused on effective risk management on quality processes. MAAP President Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos AFP (Ret) said, “This achievement is the result…
Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC) or FastCat received a Maritime Recognition Award from the Maritime Forum in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of The Maritime League, the forum’s founding convener. FastCat Chairman, Christopher Pastrana was present to receive the award for the “Excellence in the Development, Management and Operation of a Modern Interisland Ferry System” category. The company owns and operates the country’s first and…
Southeast Asia’s port scene is incredibly dynamic, and 2017 will be a year of significant changes with big implications for shippers as structural adjustments in the liner shipping sector and the region’s economic make-up continue. The changing market could result in lower terminal handling charges for shippers as container terminals in the region fight to undercut each other on pricing…
Operadura Portuaria Centroamericana SA de CV (OPC) has signed a contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the first phase of the expansion of the Specialized Container and Cargo Terminal in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. The first phase covers the construction of a 350-meter long berth with a controlling depth of 15.5 meters, two trestles that will be connected to…
INTRODUCTION. The Philippine National Defense has signed a contract with Hyundai of South Korea for the construction of two units of Incheon Class Frigate last 24-October-2016 at the cost of USD 337M to modernize the capability of surface combatants of the Philippine Navy. WHY A FRIGATE? A frigate represents lower investment in terms of cost and displacement compared with a…
Jan. 27 (UPI) — Ingalls Shipbuilding has officially begun fabrication on a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), for the US Navy. The official start of fabrication means the first 100 tons of steel have been cut for the vessel. “Starting fabrication on another destroyer is a great way to start the year,” Ingalls Shipbuilding…
Korean shipyard specialist SeaQuest Marine Project Management has successfully completed a major project overseeing the construction of one of the UK Ministry of Defense’s latest Naval Auxiliaries that will provide support to the new UK aircraft carriers and other British & NATO naval vessels. On 12-January-2017, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and the UK Ministry of Defense (UK MOD)…
As part of the USD 290 million Block Island Wind Farm project to supply less expensive power to Rhode Island and New England, Keystone Engineering (Keystone) was retained to design the substructures for five, 6-megawatt wind turbine generators. To accommodate the complex aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loading of the deep water wind turbines and streamline communication with the generator designer, Keystone…
Portuguese seafood canner, Freitasmar, has received Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna on January 1, 2017. Freitasmar, which specializes in the production of canned seafood, can now display the official seal on its products. FOS-certified supplier, Frabelle, a fishing company from the Philippines, fishes all tuna species for Freitasmar. Frabelle uses the Purse Seine fishing…
There are two crocodile species found in the Philippines – the Crocodylus porosus and the Crocodylus mindorensis. The latter is the specie endemic to and found only in the Philippines. Crocodiles are called “Buwaya” in the Philippines. However, it is used interchangeably to mean either crocodile or alligator. The word “Buwaya” originates from the Proto-Austranesian word “Buqaya.” A. CROCODYLUS POROSUS is…
Oceana uses Global Fishing Watch data to highlight transshipping hotspots, countries and ports of interest. Oceana today released a report exposing the global scale of transshipping at sea, a practice that can mask illegal fishing practices and conceal human rights abuses. The report, which was released at The Economist’s World Ocean Summit in Bali, Indonesia, uses a new dataset released…
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In October 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plans to establish closer ties with Russia and China. Weeks later, he sent Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to Moscow for exploratory talks on defense matters. Accordingly, the Russians offered defense equipment including a submarine and drones. In early January 2017, two Russian Federation Navy (RFN) ships of Russia Federation’s Pacific Fleet made…
Incat Crowther collaborated with Bhagwan Marine and Neptune Marine Services on this AUD 30 million project in Dampier, Australia, to develop a first-of-a-kind, integrated catamaran. The goal was to design one vessel capable of performing six functions: dive support, geophysical survey, geotechnical survey, cargo transport, hyperbaric rescue, and safety standby. Challenges included SOLAS 2009 (Safety of Life at Sea) compliance,…
A colleague recently sent me an article written by Matthew Gault about a “hilarious — and infuriating — database of the government’s ethical shortcomings”. An earlier version of this story was published in November 2014 by the magazine War Is Boring. Just like in the infamous “Laglag Bala” scandal involving personnel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Department…
The Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, has announced that Mr. Lee Jeong-kie has been elected as its new Chairman and CEO. Mr Lee was elected at the extraordinary meeting of KR’s general assembly that oversees the running of KR and comprises 86 voting members. He assumes the role of Chairman and CEO, following the death of Mr….
Introduction Living in today’s “uncertainties of boom or bust economies, global climate change, rapid urbanization, technological advancement, and continuing war on poverty or terrorism present a lot of risk necessitating people to prevent the occurrence or mitigate its impact.” However, when there is extreme danger ahead, we must prepare to accept reality and respond accordingly. This has been explained as…
“I want the declaration of Martial Law to be the sole prerogative of the President…” – Pres. Du30 (The Manila Times, 24 December 2016) The mere mention by Pres. Du30 of the possibility of martial law last Christmas Eve before an audience of Nanay (mother) volunteers in Pampanga sent frightening shivers among hundreds of their “Kabalens” (provincemates) but also, real…
PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE To relate to the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, local ship designer, or school of naval architecture, two of the elements of Naval Surface Combatant Shipbuilding are the identification and control of the level of signature threshold of the ship in order to reduce vulnerability, and enhance survivability in the modern war at sea….
Sustainable and cost effective, Damen’s Multiple Vessel 1806 Commuter Waterbus will contribute to Abidjan’s urban transport infrastructure. Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Société de Transport Lagunaire (STL) to build sixteen shallow-draft passenger ferries for the Ivory Coast. The contract represents part of a forward-thinking presidential plan that strives to reduce urban congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in…
Global Market Summary. Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) are the fastest growing segment of the Naval Vessels Market. At least 24 countries are known to have a total of 136 OPVs on order and 30 countries have plans for up to another 276 at a total value of over $60 billion. The total number of OPVs on order has increased by…
Passenger liners have not only become a means of transport over the seas, but they have also become floating hotels and resorts. As propulsion technologies, navigation systems, and ship designs improve, so do the systems which facilitate daily operations aboard cruise ships. Just like hotels, cruise ships need the means to register guests and passengers, assign them to cabins according…