The Philippines through MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo B Guerrero conveyed on 02-July-2018 its support for the inclusion of “number of serious incidents per year, and per vessel type” as a new performance indicator for maritime safety in the Strategic Plan, 2018-2023 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which held the 120th Session of the IMO Council, London, United Kingdom from…
Marking its 44th anniversary on this day, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has been making big investments in terms of port infrastructure in its bid to achieve its vision by 2020. It is also in line with the current thrust of the Duterte administration to realize the golden age of infrastructure and be at par with our international partners. Incidentally,…
The role of Inmarsat as the sole provider of satellite technology performing to Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) standards is set for advancement after an IMO Sub-Committee decided to greenlight consideration of both FleetBroadband and Fleet One for formal approval. To date, Inmarsat is the only company that has received approval from the International Maritime Organization to provide…
Seafarers’ rights to Shore Leave have been strengthened through amendments, which entered into force globally on 1-January-2018, under the revised treaty, which aims to achieve the smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo and passengers. The amendments to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) also bring in a new requirement for national governments to introduce electronic…
Officials from various government entities in the Philippines have received training in how to develop a National Maritime Transport Policy (NMPT). The concept is being promoted by IMO as a good governance practice to guide planning, decision making and legislation in the maritime sector, and as a key driver for a country’s sustainable development. The event took place in Manila,…
How can ports cut emissions to ensure cleaner air and contribute to the battle against climate change? First, ports need to quantify emissions in ports, and they need to identify measures to cost-effectively reduce port-related emissions. A strategic partnership between the IMO-executed GloMEEP energy efficiency project and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) is helping selected countries to…
IMO has issued a new warning that bauxite may become unstable when carried in bulk on a ship, potentially causing the vessel to capsize. Bauxite is one of the world’s major sources of aluminum with around 100 million tons (MT) transported annually by sea. In 2015, a bulk carrier sank while transporting bauxite, with the loss of 18 seafarers. Research…
A large number of abandoned or no-longer usable fiberglass vessels – including fishing vessels and leisure craft – are dumped at sea each year, possibly due to a lack of land-based disposal facilities. This was a concern raised by Pacific delegations to the Parties to the treaties, which regulate the dumping of wastes at sea. However, full data on the…
For the first time in its history, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC) has conducted a large-scale study asking exhibitors and visitors of the leading global trade fair for the maritime industry to give their assessment of the sector’s economic and technological development. The SMM Maritime Industry Report (SMM MIR) shows that the industry is looking to the future with…
After the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit decision in November 2017 to go, finally, for a Code of Conduct involving the 10 ASEAN member-nations and their Dialogue Partners, particularly the People’s Republic of China, the value of FVR’s strategic decision made 25 years ago to pursue the separation of the Philippine Coast Guard – from being one of the operating units of…
A new report published by the Danish Maritime Authority has called for changes in international maritime regulation to prepare for the introduction of autonomous ships. “It is important that Denmark and Danish companies are at the forefront of technology and digitalization. The development of autonomous ships is fast-moving and we must be at its forefront,” said Danish Minister for Industry,…
When it comes to fishing vessel safety, the mission is clear, says Sandra Allnutt of the International Maritime Organization (IMO): enhance safety to save lives. “We want to reduce loss of life in one of the most dangerous professions in the world, and we want to enhance safety on board fishing vessels,” said Ms Allnutt, Head of Maritime Technology in…
Last month, PRS successfully passed with flying colors (with only 1 minor observation) the strict assessment and certification audit of ABS QE to the latest 2015 version of ISO9001 of PRS’ Integrated Management System. The first and leading Filipino classification society has again trailblazed in establishing an Integrated Management System compliant to ISO 9001:2015 (quality management standard), ISO 18001 (OHSAS…
In November 2017, Inmarsat launched a vital new service, SafetyNET II, for Maritime Safety Information Providers (MSIPs), marking a key stage in upgrading the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which helps to save thousands of lives at sea each year. Inmarsat’s new generation international broadcast and automatic reception service for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) enables MSIP’s to transition…
PRS Technical Services Inc. leads the way in assisting Filipino shipowners and operators in complying with MARINA MC 08-2015 entitled “Rules and Regulations on Subdivision and Damage Stability Requirements for Philippine-Registered Domestic Ships”. This MC outlines the requirements under Resolution MSC.216(82), adopting the regulations on subdivision and damage stability in SOLAS Chapter 11-1 which are based on the probabilistic concept…
The versatile offshore patrol vessel may prove to be a vital solution to the diverse maritime threats in the GCC (Gulf Cooperating Council) Region. GULF ARAB STATES face significant challenges today, ranging from a slump of oil prices to rising incidents of domestic terrorism. However, the critical need for maritime security is one that is given precedence because of a…
For the past few decades, the world experienced a big shift on how information is gathered and disseminated. The internet became a connection which is virtually unlimited. Today, it is norm to have free information – something which is uncommon during the days prior to the conception of the internet. Almost every information is already posted in the world wide…
The Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS), the country’s first and largest classification society, has embarked on a rebranding while expanding its services to support its aim of safer shipping and increase its client base in the growing domestic fleet. Engr. William Hernandez, president of Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS), says the service expansion is to meet the demand from the…
Transas has introduced a new Survival Craft Simulator (SCS) to prepare crew for the multitude of possible scenarios that can occur during lifeboat drills, aiming to address one of the most notorious sources of accidents in shipping without exposing personnel to physical danger. Effective survival craft training is essential to prepare crew for a disaster at sea but practical lifeboat…
The presentation of some groups working to promote awareness of the archipelagic and maritime nature of the nation is one of the highlights of the recent Maritime Forum held last month at the National Defense College of the Philippines. This could have been triggered by the developing situations in the South China Sea and Benham Rise in the Philippine Sea….
The Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last 26-September-2016 with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, Inc. (SONAME) to further support MARINA in its capacity-building for the full implementation of this important MARINA Circular 2015-08 on Rules and Regulations on Subdivision and Damage Stability Requirements. In this…
With the August deadline looming for ship owners to have Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) installed on their vessels, this two-part article takes a brief look at why ECDIS was brought in, the key regulations behind it, the latest trends in ECDIS technology and what the future might hold for ECDIS innovation. Part I. Regulations behind ECDIS Born…
The Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Inc. (PAFI) urges the Philippines to seize the opportunity presented by its chairing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2017 when ASEAN celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding to assert and project a leadership role in the construction of regional ocean governance and maritime security as a Philippine contribution to the ASEAN Community…
The goal of the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association’s (WFSA) has been to identify and disseminate approaches, primarily technology-based, to reduce ferry fatalities. They focus on technology because it is often an impetus for social change. The 1st Ferry Safety and Technology Conference 2015 hosted by WFSA sponsored its annual vessel design competition, commissioned student research, convened a technology-based conference, and…
Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI) began as a family-owned and managed business that has grown from a lone 14- seater jeepney business called Ceres Liner plying a single route, to a conglomerate of transportation companies with a combined number of 4,000 transport vehicles nation wide. The company pioneered inter-modal services between Negros, Cebu, Mindanao, Leyte, Panay, and Luzon. It also pioneered inter-modal transport services…