A new program set to help seafarers and their families cope with the physical and mental trauma caused by torture and abuse at the hands of pirates is being launched in London, UK today. The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP), funded by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and The TK Foundation, is chaired by Peter Swift, formerly managing director of…
The Philippines’ estimated 380,000 seafarers have much to cheer about as the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have reached the final agreement regarding the pay hike of sailors serving in the international merchant marine fleet. The conclusion, which has been hard fought by both sides, resulted in a three-year deal being…
The United States government is set to provide more nuclear and radiation detection equipment to the Philippine government to be deployed to ports in Manila and Cebu by next year. According to Kim Prono, a representative of the US Department of Energy, the move is meant to increase security measures at the country’s major ports, to prevent nuclear proliferation and…
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is pushing for the Philippines-Indonesia Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) as a prelude to the connectivity to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ro-Ro system starting next year. Marina said the connectivity will facilitate the seamless transport of cargo and passengers within the ASEAN economies. Initially, Marina and its Indonesian counterpart, the Indonesian Directorate General…
Department of Transportation and Communications secretary Manuel Roxas II has unveiled a 5-year P565 billion infrastructure plan including the continuation of the controversial North Rail project. Speaking before a briefing organized by the Makati Business Club recently, Roxas said the project is aimed at providing reliable, safe, and affordable public transportation system nationwide. The projects, meanwhile, include the 11.7 km…
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…
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,…
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…
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…