Tag: Philippines

In a bid to boost the country's cargo volumes in 2012 The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced an upgrading plan to several ports in a bid to boost the country's cargo volumes in 2012.Raul T Santos, assistant general manager at PPA, said development plans are in the pipeline for key ports such as Manila, Batangas, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, General Santos and Davao.The ports upgrade will seek to attract more cargo ships and companies to use the Philippines as a transhipment point.Santos said the PPA projects cargo volumes to increase by 4.5% to 175.4m tonnes in 2012, slightly higher compared to 167.8m tonnes this year. In 2010, the country's cargo volumes hit 166.4m tonnes.Source: Seatrade Asia

Deficiencies which EMSA inspectors noted are related to maritime education & training institutions The Philippines must upgrade standards in the training and education of seafarers even as the European Union is preparing to announce whether Filipino maritime crew is complying with a 1995 convention on standards.Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on education, warned that if the EU says the Philippines has not been complying with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, Filipino seafarers will be barred from working on"The maritime industry will be seriously undermined if the government does not take decisive steps to improve not only the national system of maritime education and training in the country, but also the development and implementation of a strong and comprehensive agenda for Filipino seafarers," he said.Quoting figures from the Labor department, Angara said Filipinos make up around 30 percent of all seafarers. Those seafarers send home around $300 million (P12.9 billion) a year. If the Portugal-based European Maritime Safety Agency finds Philippine training standards are not within SCTW standards, the loss of jobs will affect the 25 percent of remittances from seafarers, Angara said.Angara is the author of the proposed Magna Carta ...

Including internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone The House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a bill defining the maritime zones of the country to which it can exercise sovereign rights.Congressmen unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill 4185 that describes the maritime zones of the Philippines as the following: internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.Authored by Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, HB 4185 is a Malacanang-certified bill that states a general declaration of and defines the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippines."As such, the passage of this proposed legislative measure has for its aim the provision of the necessary flexibility in the enactment of subsequent laws pertinent to the rights and obligations that the Philippines is entitled to and should exercise over its own maritime zones in accordance with the UNCLOS," Golez explained.The Philippines is a signatory of the 1982 UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.Golez stressed that approval of the bill will "effectuate the ends" for which the Philippines, being a sovereign coastal state, entered into as signatory and party to the UNCLOS.The approval of the bill also guarantees ...

Says Neda executive If the Philippines is to become the world's fourth-largest shipbuilding nation in five to 10 years, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said safety and security in the maritime industry must be prioritized.In a statement, Neda Assistant Director General Ruperto Majuca said the movers of the Philippine maritime industry must continue upgrading their standards and implementing the sector's existing plans and strategies, including those outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-16. The plans and strategies include ensuring transport safety and security.Majuca noted that the maritime sector has been plagued with more than 160 accidents a year over the last decade."The maritime industry needs to update regularly their safety and security standards and strictly implement them, to keep up with international benchmarks and practices," Majuca said. "Ensuring the effectiveness of maritime policy should be complemented with advancements in transportation infrastructure, which are crucial in boosting infrastructure development and the services sector. The PDP 2011-16 endeavors to ensure an integrated and coordinated transport network, including improving the country's roll-on, roll-off terminal system, that will enhance our interisland logistics."Majuca also said the shipbuilding and, generally, the entire maritime industry, must be in compliance with international maritime security standards. ...

Tensions are rising again as China and the Philippines bump boats and trade diplomatic barbs Tensions are rising again as China and the Philippines bump boats and trade diplomatic barbs over the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Adding fuel to the fire were recent "war games" staged by 3,000 American and Filipino marines near the hotly disputed maritime territory.The latest row was sparked by alleged intrusions into each other's claimed area in the potentially oil-and-gas rich chain of islands, where more than 50% of the world's merchant fleet tonnage passes each year. It also comes ahead of a crucial East Asian Summit meeting later this month in Bali, Indonesia where world leaders will be in attendance and the issue on the agenda.The latest incident, the ninth since March between the two rival Asian claimants, involved a Philippine warship that China alleges strayed into its sovereign waters on October 19. The Philippine ship became entangled with the cables of a Chinese fishing vessel, which at the time was towing 23 unmanned dinghies.Filipino naval authorities admitted that its warship, the BRP Rizal, experienced a steering problem that led to its "accidental" collision with the cables of the Chinese fishing ...

Near a South China Sea shoal disputed by China and the Philippines More than 200 U.S. and Filipino marines staged an amphibious assault on a beach in a combat drill Sunday near a South China Sea shoal disputed by China and the Philippines.U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Craig Timberlake said the exercise at a sprawling Philippine naval reserve in the coastal town of San Antonio in Zambales province would allow the military allies to operate jointly in a range of scenarios, including responding to disasters.He refused to discuss whether or not the annual drill, which has been staged for 28 years, was now being held partly to address concerns by Asian countries like the Philippines over China's growing naval power. China has expressed unhappiness in the past over such drills near disputed South China Sea regions.The Oct. 17-28 military maneuvers involve about 2,000 Marines and 1,000 Filipino counterparts. Both sides have said the exercises were not aimed at China or any country as an imaginary target."The long-term objective is to have better inter-operability between the two militaries," Timberlake told The Associated Press, adding the marines have also engaged in disaster relief work and humanitarian missions."If you can do those things, then ...

MLC provides comprehensive rights and protection to more than 1.2 million seafarers A Vatican official urged the Aquino administration to approve the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) of 2006 to ensure "fair employment practices" for Filipino seafarers.According to the International Labour Organization, the MLC "provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers.""The Convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality shipowners," the ILO added.Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, president of Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said a law providing protection and just treatment is crucial because Filipinos make up for about 20 percent of the world's seafarers.In a statement issued for National Seafarers' Day on September 25, Veglio also asked the Philippine government to approve the Seafarers' Identity Document (SID) Convention 1958 (ILO 108)-C185.As the Philippines is not a signatory to the convention, Filipino seafarers were not allowed to go onshore in some countries unless they have a visa, an article posted at the website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.Veglio said Filipino seafarers said Filipino seafarers stand to benefit if the Philippine government ...

Philippines in talks with U.S., Canada, Australia for supplies The Philippines plans to begin importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the next four to five years and is in talks with U.S., Canadian and Australian suppliers, Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug said on Tuesday. "In four to five years, hopefully we will begin commercial activity for LNG. A decision on how we will import the gas, including looking at floating vessels, will be decided by the end of this year," Layug told reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference in Singapore.LNG is seen as the main source to meet the country's expected 5,000 megawatt per day domestic demand for gas-fired power in 2016, up from the current 2,700 megawatts, he said. "We are conducting feasibility studies on which areas are appropriate for a LNG receiving terminal, a pipeline, even for a floating vessel. We are awaiting the masterplan by year end. They are looking at Luzon and Manila Bay -- very likely Luzon will be the hub," Layug said.The country's main island of Luzon currently gets 30 percent of its power from the Philippines' Malampaya gas project, but production from the project is expected to begin depleting within a few ...

The 23-member crew of a Spanish-owned oil tanker hijacked off West Africa The Philippine government says the 23-member crew of a Spanish-owned oil tanker hijacked off West Africa is reported to be safe so far. At least 14 crew members are Filipinos.The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that the ship's local recruitment agency reported the crew is safe and their families have been informed about the hijacking.The Spanish owners said Thursday they had not heard from the ship since it was hijacked the previous day as it idled 62 nautical miles (100 kilometers) from Benin's capital Cotonou, and are hoping pirates just want to steal the crude rather than seek ransom for the crew.Five Spaniards and two Ukrainians are also aboard.Pirates are separately holding 14 other Filipino seamen in West Africa.Source: AP

For the 3rd time ,the Philippines was able to comply with global seafaring standards For the third time this decade, the Philippines was able to comply with global seafaring standards and has made it in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) "white list". Two Sattahip-based naval vessels on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia rescued a Thai cargo ship from being hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.