Philippine News

December 3 ------ After four months of captivity, the crew of the bulker Eternity C is expected to be released by the Houthis. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs reports it has been advised of the release by the government of Oman, although no timing or details were provided. The Philippines said it had been discussing the plight of the individuals with the Omani authorities as it sought to gain their freedom. The Philippines had made an initial appeal in July when

December 3 ------ There was a new confrontation on Tuesday morning, December 2, as China continues its expansionist policies, claiming larger areas in the surrounding waters, but unlike other recent events, this one was with the Japanese. The two sides are telling different versions of the incident. Japan and China have long been at odds over a small group of islands known by the Chinese as Diaoyu Islands, while the Japanese, who assert the administration of the area, refer t

December 3 ------ Stillstrom and Port of Roenne have teamed up on a study looking into integrating offshore wind energy with maritime electrification. Maersk’s offshore power and charging solutions developer and the Danish port have initiated a joint white paper to explore how Energy Island Bornholm could serve as a blueprint for this kind of integration. The study, Energy Island Bornholm Powering Maritime Electrification, examines how renewable power production and future gr

December 3 ------ Fire services responded quickly to reports of smoke billowing from a bulker that was loading in the Paradip, India, port over the weekend. They were able to successfully douse the fire without injuries to the crew, but it again raised questions about the handling of the dangerous cargo. The Greek-owned bulker Eco Colonel, registered in Liberia, had arrived at Paradip on November 27. Over the weekend, the vessel was loading a cargo of nearly 30,000 metric ton

December 2 ------ Scrap metal is among the most notorious cargoes for fire risk, not because of its inherent properties but because it is often contaminated with flammable debris and ready-made sources of ignition, like damaged lithium-ion batteries. A recent blaze at the port of Hull, UK illustrated the continuing danger to shipping, port facilities and public health from scrap-related fires. On June 27, 2025, the freighter Altay was alongside a scrap yard at Albert Dock in

December 2 ------ The Republic of Panama was re-elected today with 148 votes to Category A of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council during the 34th Assembly held in London. This strong international support once again highlights the country’s strategic importance within the global maritime sector and its firm commitment to strengthening the IMO. This achievement reflects the sustained and effective diplomatic work of Panama’s Permanent Mission to the IMO, carr

December 2 ------ The United Nations warns that gang warlords in Haiti have turned the country’s coastal waters into a pivotal transshipment hub for drugs originating from South America and destined for key markets across the Caribbean, the U.S. and Europe. As the country plunges deeper into the abyss of lawlessness, the UN contends that large gangs have taken control and are deeply entrenched along strategic corridors, in effect turning most of the country’s coastal waters i

December 2 ------ Oslo-headquartered classification society DNV is hosting the first open tender process to offer long-term access to renewable e-methanol as a means of supporting the decarbonization of industry, transport and chemical sectors. As disclosed, the tender is in line with the European Union’s (EU) Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III)—which represents a set of guidelines that target enhancing renewable energy use and slashing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by

December 1 ------ In a tense, fiercely fought election, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on November 28, elected its council for the next biennial term for 2026-27. The Council is the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization with the elections for two-year terms. The elections came at the start of the 34th session of the Assembly, which runs through December 3, and which will have an influential r

December 1 ------ In a seismic era for shipping and global sustainability efforts, the perception of LNG as a marine fuel has shifted dramatically in recent years. Once seen as one of many ‘alternatives’ in the future fuels bucket, LNG together with liquefied biomethane (Bio-LNG/LBM/RNG) are firmly becoming mainstream options for owners and operators looking to decarbonize. Over the past three years, investment into the fuel has accelerated driven by a number of factors, incl

December 1 ------ Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) continues to hold 20 Filipino seafarers as it investigates cocaine that it found hidden in the cargo of their vessel. The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers reported yesterday that it is in touch with the authorities and the crew is being well treated but detained aboard their vessel. The incident began on November 16 when the Panama-flagged bulker Nord Bosporus (60,457 dwt), owned by a Japanese c

December 1 ------ Spanish maritime authorities have decided to tow a ship that had allegedly been abandoned by its owners without fuel or provisions in the Strait of Gibraltar, according to local media. The Maritime Captaincy for the Port of Malaga told Spanish outlet Sur that the vessel in question, the 5,800-dwt coastal freighter Marine I, was drifting near the Strait and had been without propulsion for 10 days. The crew were reportedly without fuel, water or food, and thei

November 30 ------ Explosive gas atmospheres are a constant consideration in the design and operation of ships, FPSOs and offshore platforms. From cargo pump rooms to vent masts, every area where flammable vapor might occur must be identified and managed. This process, known as Hazardous Area Classification, forms the basis for safe design under IEC 60092-502, IEC 60079-10-1, and class rules such as those of ABS and Bureau Veritas. Why Hazardous Area Classification Exists Whe

November 30 ------ The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD) and partners have closed the world’s first fund for vessel retrofits with a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, securing total commitments of up to $35 million and exceeding its initial target. The Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET) offers up to 100% upfront financing for retrofits and introduces a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, directly linked to verified fuel and regulatory savings.

November 29 ------ Conversations about seafarer welfare rightly focus on life at sea: safety, rest, and fair pay. But there is another, often overlooked, element that shapes how seafarers feel about their work and their lives: what happens when they send money home. For most seafarers, supporting loved ones through their earnings is not just a financial act but one of care and responsibility. Yet the simple process of transferring funds can be slow, expensive, and unpredictab

November 29 ------ An estimated 11 billion tons of cargo pass through global ports and harbors every year, illustrating the importance of maritime facilities to international trade. However, as with other examples of critical infrastructure, this importance can introduce unique security challenges. Port security teams face continual threats of theft, unauthorized access, smuggling, and acts of sabotage that often require continuous observation to reliably address. In high-tra

November 28 ------ The challenges of the past few years have increased the awareness of the vulnerability of the shipping industry to delays as congestion builds in key ports and routes faced disruptions ranging from geopolitical issues to piracy, terrorism, or natural hazards driven by extreme weather. A new study estimates that disruptions at these critical points affect around $192 billion worth of maritime trade each year. These disruptions result in estimated economic lo

November 28 ------ Shipping moves 90% of global trade and produces nearly 3% of global emissions. The sector has proved challenging to clean up, as cargo ships can travel for weeks between ports and typically rely on cheap, energy-dense and extremely polluting heavy fuel oil. Earlier this year, international efforts to move shipping towards net zero by using cleaner fuels fell apart under pressure from the United States. But as battery prices fall year on year, there might be

November 28 ------ Reporting that LNG supply conditions in France and Europe have stabilized, TotalEnergies announced that it is demobilizing the floating LNG storage and regasification unit (FSRU) it established at Le Havre. The vessel Cape Ann was pushed into the role as a quick solution in the fall of 2023 in response to a perceived gas crisis as Europe moved to replace supplies from Russia. According to the company, the LNG terminal, which was the fifth established in Fra

November 28 ------ With the firefighting efforts completed and the fire aboard the vessel reportedly contained, the ONE Henry Hudson was shifted late on November 26 from the anchorage one mile offshore back to a berth in the Port of Los Angeles. The plan calls for offloading the containers that were affected by the fire, as well as others that were scheduled for discharge when the fire began on November 21. The Unified Command established by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Port