INTRODUCTION This article provides summaries of operational limitations of a submarine, as well as basic mechanics about how a submarine operates at the surface, underwater, between the sea surface and bottom of the seabed, and how to float back to the surface. Below are the cycles showing how a submarine operates, as illustrated in Fig. 1. To prove how this…
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With over 2 million square kilometers of coastal and oceanic waters connecting the archipelago, the Philippine fishery is one of the major sources of food and income of the population. This area contains a common property resource – fishery and aquatic – that needs protection for the present and future generations. Recent reports indicate that among the country’s major economic…
This year is a milestone year for the global hydrographic community. 100 years ago or in June 1919, the 1st International Hydrographic Conference was held in London. It marks the beginning towards the creation of an international bureau for hydrography. Today, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States…
INTRODUCTION The atmospheric characteristics inside the submarine are importantly equal to the submarine’s major ship systems such as propulsions, navigations and sensors, weapons, auxiliaries, etc. A need to ensure an efficient and reliable health and safety of the submarine’s complements and ship machineries from atmospheric pollutants is definitely a must. To achieve and maintain this goal, an atmospheric control system…
As far back as 1991, I was vocal about investing in our defense, should the government decide to let go of the U.S. bases on account of a provision in the 1987 constitution mandating “no foreign troops on Philippine soil.” Up to that point, the U.S. was our defense shield, and if we were to give it up then we…
INTRODUCTION Stealth is the main reason for acquiring a submarine. Submarine-warfare is governed by avoiding being detected underwater by controlled sound propagation and crew activities on-board. Submarine invincibility is lost and the effective use of her weapon system would be denied once her presence underwater is detected. The submarine is a sitting duck because her location, rate of motion, and…
Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) received the Best Operating Forces Unit Award during the 120th Philippine Navy’s Founding Anniversary in June. President Rodrigo Duterte personally congratulated NFWM Commander RAdm Rene V Medina while FOIC VAdm Robert Empredad attached the streamer to NFWM’s standard in a ceremony held in Davao. As the Philippine Navy marked its 120th Founding Anniversary with an…
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…
Introduction: Archipelagic and Maritime Philippines, an ICZM case study and proposition for ASEAN Vision 2025. The ocean management concerns of the Philippines as an archipelagic State encompass its archipelagic and internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf (including a possible Extended Continental Shelf). The same situation exists for the two other archipelagic States in the Central Indo-Pacific…
INTRODUCTION Propulsion is a means of creating force leading to the movement of a vehicle in the water, air or in land. The term is derived from Latin word “pro” meaning before or forward, and “pellere” meaning to drive. A propulsion system consists of the source mechanical power, and propulsion to convert the power into propulsive force. The main engine…
The nation and its maritime community join the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in commemorating its founding anniversary in October. Originally created as a civilian bureau in 1901 by the United States, the organization assumed its military character in 1967 by virtue of Republic Act 5173. It used to be one of the Philippine Navy’s major units until its separation in…
The 123rd Maritime Forum was held at the NDCP last 30-June-2017, 0800-1200H. The Maritime Forum is one of the activities the Maritime League, “a nonprofit Filipino maritime foundation was established in 1990 to address the need for an organization, which will help spur progress in the maritime sector and advance the interest of the maritime profession and the maritime industry…
On invitation from the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former DILG Sec Rafael M Alunan and I took on a very enlightening journey to revisit the Republic of Korea and review anew the various conditions and characteristics that surround the tremendous progress and development of that great country. The visit was arranged by ROK Ambassador to the PH Kim Jae…
INTRODUCTION Ship acquisition program is a very sensitive issue, thus the choice of a proven design warship tops the list. The cost of Frigate acquisition is very prohibitive that it requires a careful evaluation and analysis of the Ship Systems Work Breakdown Structures (SSWBS), an itemized cost distribution of various components of the ship versus the desired requirements and capability…
115th MARITIME FORUM MF 115 was hosted by the PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), held at the PCG Building, Port Area, Manila on 30-September-2016. Commo CARLOS L. AGUSTIN (Ret), FORUM CHAIR thanked the host RADM WILLIAM MELAD, CPCG, and acknowledged HON FELIPE JUDAN, USEC DOTr for Maritime Affairs, as well as the other agency heads present in the Forum. RADM WILLIAM…
During the 120th Maritime Forum held at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific where we were once again awed by the progress and development of that excellent institution founded by AMOSUP Chairman Capt Greg Oca and nurtured by its President, VADM Eduardo Ma R Santos, I asked the Forum to remember former Senator Leticia R Shahani, likewise an…
The Southeast Asian region is situated in a unique strategic environment that is shaped by the Pacific maritime domain. It is home to maritime nations sitting astride vital sea lines of communication and trade in the Asia-Pacific, with vast water resources and minerals, and oil and gas reserves. Shipping traffic through Southeast Asia is several times greater than the traffic…
INTRODUCTION The primary mission of a frigate is to defend and strike. The threat assessment is a very crucial factor in the design, combat system outfit and capabilities of a Frigate. An in-depth study and analysis defines the parameters of the ship’s naval architectural design with a variety of sensors, early warning, defensive and offensive capabilities that can match the…
An Order was issued proclaiming a Naval Reservation at Bicobian, Isabela by former President Ferdinand Marcos after the Karagatan incident wherein the CPA/NPA/NDF landed some 500 M14 rifles (made in China) on a fishing boat that ran aground at Digoyo Point, Isabela due to rough seas in mid-1972. I later got ordered to move the RPS Iloilo (PS32) from Northern…
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…
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….
The Philippine Navy (PN), through the Office of Naval Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Foreign Service Institute and the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat, organized the first Experts’ Dialogue on Maritime Security Governance to discuss the different approaches and mechanisms on how to effectively manage the nation’s maritime domain. Drawing from the experiences and best practices of Indonesia and…
INTRODUCTION The Objectives of this Technical Evaluation Briefing is to mitigate the technical risk on the suspected poor sea-keeping performance of SSV TARLAC as manifested in the photograph of said vessel while enroute to the Philippines. Suspected Patent Defects and Design Flaw need to be corrected (once proven that it exists). If said deficiencies is present, the operation and maintenance…
The idea of giving credit where credit is due on the separation of the Coast Guard from the Navy came about when I got the suggestion last year that we should award VAdm. Mariano J. Dumancas Jr. (FOIC, PN1990-93) with a citation for exactly agreeing to help achieve that result in 1992. I missed to include that idea in our…