Philippine News

October 23 ------ There was some mystery in mid-October when most Iranian-owned tankers simultaneously turned on their AIS location systems, having mostly travelled in the “dark” since 2018 when the United States re-imposed sanctions. The Iranian leadership remains in a highly nervous state after the 12-Day War in June, issuing a flow of contradictory statements and evidently fearing a resumption of Israeli and American attacks. But it was difficult to see the logic in Irania

October 23 ------ The Los Angeles–Long Beach–Shanghai green shipping corridor, a “first-of-its-kind” initiative connecting ports between California and China, has achieved new milestones. As disclosed, the green shipping corridor, which is facilitated by C40 cities (a global network of mayors working to tackle the climate crisis by endeavoring to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030), has delivered on its envisioned phase I targets. The milestones include the expans

October 22 ------ Governments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to delay the planned adoption of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) for one year in a vote at the Extraordinary Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC E.2) in London. The postponement of the world’s first global carbon pricing system on any international polluter—global shipping—is seen as a major setback in meeting the maritime industry’s decarbonization targets. The decisio

October 22 ------ The diplomatic arm of the European Union is reported to be working on a new plan to further increase the inspections of the shadow tanker fleet that supports the Russian energy industry, according to a draft document seen by Reuters and POLITICO. The outlets are reporting that the position builds on the efforts by France, Estonia, Germany, and other member states, which have already stopped suspect vessels. The European External Action Service (EEAS) will be

October 22 ------ China is extending its new “special port fees” to visiting cruise ships, raising questions about whether the cruise industry will retreat from its planned port calls due to the costs. The new fees started on October 14 as a reciprocal to the U.S. port fees introduced under the program established by the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in response to China’s dominance of the shipbuilding industry. The U.S. program is targeting China-owned and operated ship

October 22 ------ Australia’s Port of Melbourne and China’s Port of Shanghai have joined forces to establish a green shipping corridor. The ports formalized their partnership with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on October 19 in China, culminating from a nearly two-decade-long partnership between the Port of Melbourne and Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC), which commenced in 2006. The joint initiative, supported by the C40 Cities Climate Leadershi

October 21 ------ The IMO’s Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships convened as scheduled today, October 20, as the shipping industry remains confused over last week’s decision to adjourn for one year the discussions on the Net-Zero Framework. Some participants are feeling relief while many were disappointed and pointed to the near-term uncertainties that everyone hoped would have been resolved. The working group, however, is going

October 21 ------ Cruise Iceland, which was set up to promote the country for cruise tourism, is warning that a government head tax imposed in 2025 is driving away the cruise lines. The group highlights that bookings for cruise ship port calls are down in 2026 and will further decline in 2027 unless the government reconsiders its position. Iceland saw a strong growth in its tourism business based on its successful promotion campaign. The Icelandic Tourism Board reports a tota

October 21 ------ U.S. and Chinese officials are reporting that good progress has been made in the early phases for the launch of the first green shipping corridor on the Pacific. The sponsors of the project highlighted the progress during a conference in Shanghai while China’s Ministry of Transport also outlined steps it will be taking to expand green shipping. The concept for the corridor followed an agreement at the UN’s global climate conference in Scotland (COP26 in 2021

October 21 ------ French shipping colossal CMA CGM has marked the delivery of its newest container vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as complete. As disclosed in a social media post, the CMA CGM Syracuse’s formal entrance to the Marseille-based maritime transport company’s fleet was officiated in South Korea on October 16. The ceremony was reportedly held at an HD Hyundai Samho yard. The vessel, which will be sailing under the French flag, boasts an overall length

October 20 ------ The explosion on October 18, aboard an LPG tanker Falcon continues to be under investigation, with the authorities discounting the media speculation of an attack by the Houthis. The Houthis also took the unusual step of quickly issuing a denial, saying that they had not been involved in the incident.   Initial reports coming from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a company security officer had informed them that the vessel was struck by an “unkno

October 20 ------ Maritime officials in Ecuador have reached an agreement concerning a national information network aimed at connecting ports, vessel operators and environmental authorities to help address the rising issue(s) of biofouling.   The development is reportedly one of a set of ‘vital’ outcomes that stemmed from a recent workshop delivered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and held together with the Maritime Technology Cooperation Center Caribbean (MT

October 20 ------ South Korea’s Jeju Port celebrated the opening of a new trade route to China, which also marked the first arrival in 57 years of a containership to Jeju. The semi-autonomous island, which lies to the south of the Korean peninsula, highlights that the new service with China will be an economic boost to the region.   The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries approved the route in late July and completed the operational plan in October. The plan calls for weekly ser

October 20 ------ A medical transport vessel has gone missing in the Makassar Strait, leaving three people mysteriously unaccounted-for. In an era of ubiquitous AIS, VHF and EPIRB access, the wholesale disappearance of an official vessel - without a distress call - is an uncommon occurrence.   The vessel went missing while transiting between two tiny islands in the center of the Indonesian archipelago. It departed Pulau Tinggalungang - on the western edge of the Flores Sea -

October 19 ------ Shipowners are starting to reveal some of the steps that are being taken to avoid the port fees instituted by the U.S. and China this week, targeting ships built, owned, or operated by companies in the respective countries. The steps come as the industry also flagged the uncertainties in the programs and continues to seek guidance from the respective authorities on how elements, especially ownership, will be interpreted. There had been reports that some of t

October 19 ------ The regional prefect for Alpes-Maritimes has finalized rules to manage future large cruise ship calls after the local authorities had attempted to take matters into their own hands. The prefects announced the proposed rules which will govern areas ranging from the Bay of Cannes and the popular ports of Cannes, Nice, and Villefranche. The regional prefect of the Ales-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux, and the Maritime Prefect for the Mediterranean, Christophe Lucas

October 18 ------ Faced with increasing financial pressures and a competitive workplace, a growing number of seafarers are exaggerating their work experience or downright falsifying their resumes to secure jobs on tankers, warns international crewing service provider Danica. The group is calling for closer collaboration between authorities, training centers, and manning agencies to address the problem while also warning shipowners and operators to work only with reputable cre

October 18 ------ By 2050, the world has pledged to reach net zero. For shipping - a sector responsible for moving 90% of global trade - the clock is ticking loudly. This week’s meeting at the IMO, aptly titled “Extraordinary Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)” will likely adopt the widely anticipated GFI (Greenhouse Fuel Index), ensuring clarity and alignment of parties. But it still won’t be enough. Before combustion engines were invented, shippin

October 17 ------ The American Association of Port Authorities quickly responded to last week’s proposed revisions by the U.S. Trade Representative to the port fee program. It said the new tariffs will only serve to delay port modernization and expansion in the United States without encouraging the reshoring of equipment manufacturing. AAPA, which represents public port authorities, has been fighting the proposed fees on Chinese-manufactured cranes since the accusations first

October 17 ------ In the midst of high-stakes negotiations over the future of IMO's emissions rules, Cyprus' influential shipowners have publicly joined the side of the "nays" on the Net Zero Framework. In a statement, the Cyprus Union of Shipowners (CUS) called for the Cypriot government and other EU member states to vote against the proposal to allow more time for talks aimed at consensus. "As currently drafted, the NZF poses a serious threat to European shipping, economy,