ANOTHER FERRY SINKS OFF BATANGAS, 25 MISSING

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 01:02:00 12/27/2009

Filed Under: Maritime Accidents
Most Read
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) A roll-on roll-off ferry with 88 passengers and crew sank off Batangas province shortly before midnight Saturday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, told radio station dzMM in an interview that the vessel, Baleno 9, sank near San Agapito Verde Island around 11:30 p.m.

So far, 63 passengers and crew have been rescued by passing ships, another Coast Guard official told radio station dzMM. The remaining 25 passengers remain missing.

Balilo said the ferry left the Port of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro before 11 p.m. and was bound for Batangas City when tragedy struck about 40 minutes later.

He said they were still trying to determine the cause of the sinking, but quoted some of the survivors as saying that water seeped into the ferry’s bow, causing the ferry to tilt on the side and eventually sink.

A passenger of one of the passing ships which rescued some passengers from the sunken vessel told another radio station that Baleno 9 was hit by big waves while passing through the waters off Verde Island.

Balilo stressed the ferry was not overloaded since it has a capacity for 250 passengers.

He added that the coast guard will be dispatching additional search and rescue ships and helicopters Sunday morning to help find and save the missing passengers and crew."

Source: PDI, Dec. 27, 2009

Ferry sinks in Philippines; 3 dead, 22 missing (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_philippines_ship_sinks)

MANILA, Philippines – A passenger ferry sank in the northern Philippines in a second sea disaster in three days. The bodies of three children were recovered and 22 people were missing Sunday.

Search-and-rescue teams rescued 63 passengers and crew of the MV Baleno-9 and were scouring the seas for others still unaccounted for, coast guard officials said.

Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo quoted survivors as saying the ship took in water from the bow ramp, causing it to list before going under near Verde Island off Batangas province, south of Manila, late Saturday.

Tamayo said a coast guard vessel found the bodies of three children.

The crew may have neglected to inspect the ship's doors before setting sail and some may have been left open, said Elena Bautista, head of the Maritime Industry Authority.

Transport and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza ordered the immediate suspension of operations of the ferry's owner, Besta Shipping Lines.

Sea accidents are common in the archipelago because of tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations.

On Christmas Eve, a wooden-hulled ferry with 73 people on board collided with a fishing vessel near the mouth of Manila Bay. Twenty-four people remain missing.

Three bodies and 46 survivors have been recovered from that accident, which prompted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to suspend operations of the companies involved in the collision.

Officials suspected Thursday's accident was likely caused by human error, but a formal inquiry was expected to begin Monday.

Last year, a ferry overturned after sailing toward a powerful typhoon in the central Philippines, killing more than 800 people on board.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,341 people in the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster.

got registered at philships pero mukhang down pa yung forums nila ano?

Nope, its running already

FERRY RUNS AGROUND NEAR DUMAGUETE PIER
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/27/2009 10:50 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Authorities rescued a total of 130 passengers after a
ferry ran aground in Dumaguete City in the province of Negros Oriental Sunday morning.

The passengers of MV Super Shuttle Ferry 18 were rescued from the ferry in a
3-hour operation by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The rescue operation began at midnight.

MV Super Shuttle Ferry 18 was en route to Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
when the crew reportedly encountered “steering problems.”

As of posting time, it is still not clear if all passengers have been rescued.

Earlier, MV Baleno 9, a roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessel, sank off Verde Island in
Batangas Saturday night, with 25 passengers still unaccounted for.

MV Baleno 9's sinking comes barely 3 days after a passenger boat was hit by
a steel fishing vessel and sank in Cavite on Thursday, leaving 4 dead and 23
missing. -With reports from ANC and Johnson Manabat, radio dzMM

as of 12/27/2009 11:01 AM

picture of the ship: here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelmysterio_713/3487681963/)

seems we have a bad year end for our maritime industry -- "K"

3 dead, dozens missing in Cavite boat collision
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/24/2009 8:10 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/24/09/2-vessels-collide-cavite-27-missing

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2) - A ferry collided with a fishing boat in waters off Limbones Island in Cavite on Thursday, killing at least 3 people and leaving about two dozen missing, an official said.

Rescue boats picked up nearly 50 people from the ferry as it began to sink following the collision, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said.

"Our search teams have found 3 bodies, but we continue to search for two dozen still missing," he told reporters.

The body of a woman wearing a life jacket was retrieved by rescuers. Two other bodies were seen floating near where the passenger vessel, MV Catalyn B, sank, Balilo said.

The weather was clear at the time of the accident and officials said they would investigate what caused the collision.

Balilo earlier said that MV Catalyn B, a wooden hull motorized vessel with 14 crew members and 59 passengers, left Pier 2 of North Harbor, Manila Wednesday night.

The vessel, which was bound for Tilik, Lubang Island in Mindoro, collided with the fishing vessel FV Nathalia and sank some 2.8 nautical miles northwest of Limbones Island at 2:25 a.m. Thursday.

A total of 46 people have been rescued, including 33 passengers and 13 crew members.

The PCG sent three boats -- BRP Pampanga (SSARV 003), MT Tug Habagat (TB-271) and BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV 3502) -- to Cavite to conduct search and rescue operations. PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo also issued a notice to mariners in the area so that they can help with the rescue operations.

A PCG statement later said an air and naval search was continuing, with other private ships diverting from their course to join the rescue.

oninBadz, happs, etal... thanks for the info about PSSS... ill try to join the group... have plenty of pix to share... merry Christmas... -- "K"

^^We'll be waiting for your pics at the group. :D

interesting name... can i ask for the link Badz? thanks in advance....

"K"

I am interested to join this group, can you provide more info owing I can't find it in yahoo search engine.
By the way, are you in the maritime industry or have sailed before with foreign-going vessels. I mean a Seafarer in in the international trade.

May I comment that most accident in the domestic shipping and in fishing industry is due to ignorance or lack of knowledge.

In domestic shipping and in fishing industry, the navigators (Captain and Chief Mate) in vessel of less than 500 Gross tons (steel hull or wooden hull passenger vessels), were holding only the license of Major Patron issued by MARINA. The requirements in getting license for Major Patron is High School graduate diploma and experience certification given by some unverifiable people or company. I doubt if anyone in MARINA is interested in verifying their certifications.

In the inter-island shipping, though the Deck Officers and Engineers were College graduates (BSME and BSMT) most of them don't have the maritime trainings as given to Filipino seafarers in the overseas maritime industry,

By the way, I also doubt if MARINA officials and staffs have the expertise to check and administer maritime regulation because I guess they lack the knowledged since I doubt if anyone of their staffs were graduates of BSMT or BSME and nor they experienced sailing onboard a foreign-going vessels as officers or engineers.

@TheAvenger
The group have only pictures related to the ships
who are currently and sometimes who have been here
in the country. Many members in the group are foreigners
and seafearers (ex:Badz) who are also sharing photos in
the group..

@kadayao
please also register at the website..

@kadayao
please also register at the website..

thanks shark for the invite, yes i will register in this website.

done with flick... here's one photo of my 1st set (2 pix). the other is POT-Earth

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/4217890489_9919c6a24c_m.jpg

^ Thanks for the pics. Hope you can share more pics :)

hi shark - i already registered in philships... have also posted 3 more pix (Cagayan Bay 1, Supercat 32 & Roble) in flickr.

"K"

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chief on Tuesday could not give an exact timeline on when their divers could extract trapped bodies inside a sunken ferry off Limbones Island in Cavite province.

"We cannot be specific on this, but we want to engage as soon as possible," PCG chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo told ANC's News@8 when asked when they would be able to account for all the 24 missing passengers believed trapped inside the sunken ferry, MV Catalyn B.

Tamayo said Coast Guard Auxiliary divers, led by Matthew Caldwell, have spotted 12 bodies floating inside the sunken ferry. He said the ferry was 221 feet below the surface and was at least 2 nautical miles away from Limbones Island.

He said Caldwell's team has agreed to dive again and try to retrieve the bodies.

"That is our main concern right now," Tamayo said, adding that they would concentrate on retrieving the bodies before planning on how to "obtain evidence from the wreck" or retrieve the whole vessel with the help of a private company.

He said the PCG is keeping the same number of victims, which include 46 rescued, 3 fatalities and 24 missing, despite the sighting of the floating bodies.

The ferry, carrying at least 73 people, was on its way to Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro from Manila when it sank on Christmas Eve, at least 2 nautical miles from Limbones Island off Maragondon town.

The wooden-hulled ferry sank after smashing into the steel-hulled fishing vessel “Anatalia.” The government has grounded other boats of the owners of the two vessels.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/29/09/no-timeline-retrieval-missing-catalyn-b-passengers



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/UFS.jpg

http://www.ufs.ph/2009-10/



This evening, I am scanning the Chart of Manila Bay for my plan to post a photo journal of Manila Bay in my own Blog when I noticed the Limbones island and I remembered the sinking of Fishing vessel Natalya and the Motor Banca Catalyn B off that island of Limbones.

You can see in the Chart (map) that there is a Traffic Separation Zone being enforced by the Philippine Coast Guard on that area, which is for entering and leaving the South Channel of Manila Bay.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/manilabay1.jpg


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/manilabay2.jpg


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/fortune-limbonesisla.jpg
The vessels collided and sunk in this area of Limbones Island right inside the Traffic Separation Zone
under the control of Philippine Coast Guard.



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/southchannel.jpg
The vessels collided and sunk in this area of Limbones Island right inside the Traffic Separation Zone
under the control of Philippine Coast Guard.



I guess the main reason for the sinking is the following :

1. That either one of the vessels did not follow the Traffic Separation Scheme. The Motor banca "Catalyn B" should be navigating on the "south-bountd" / western portion of the Traffic Zone while the Fishing vessel MV Natalya should be navigating on the "north-bound" / eastern portion of the Traffic Separation zone.

2. To make sure that they were correct course and position with relations to the Traffic Separation Scheme, both vessels should take their vessel position and plot in the Charts at least every 15 minutes since they were inside the zone.

3. However since tha time is still 0200 hours the only way they can have an accurate vessel position is by using RADAR, however I guess that Catalyn a motor banca is without Radar and the Coast Guard rules may not require them to be fitted compulsarily.

4. So the two vessel is not on the correct traffic lanes.

5. Though they were not on the correct traffic lanes they can still avoid collision if both them turn to starboard (to their right - when looking forward) since that is the rules.

6. The problems those navigators in the Fishing vessel and the Motor Banca may not be aware of the rules, which is a must for navigators / for seafarers incharge or doing the navigation of the vessel. The Coast Guard may not be strict to check if they even have the basic knowledges in the International Rules of the Road which is also called " Collision Regulations ". And the MARINA may have issued the Navigators a License of Major Patron without giving any examinations to them. Especially these navigators in small vessels were not graduates of Nautical School, unlike the Filipino Merchant Marine Officers in the world maritime industry who were all graduates of BSMT in the college. These people handling the navigation of Motor Banca and Fishing boats were apparently just high school graduates and may not know the maritime regulations especially those about Safety of Life at Sea.



http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/colrega.jpg
Copy of the Internationla Rules of the Road or the Collision Regulations.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/colregb.jpg


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/colregc.jpg


7. Well eventhough they were not graduates of Maritime Schools and eventhough their vessels were without RADAR, the accident may not happen also if the Coast Guard have put navigational bouys and markers with lights in that Traffic Separation Zone of the South Channel of Corregidor.
Most of the maritime countries have installed navigational bouys in their Traffic Zones and other aread with danger to Navigation. Of course the Philippine Coast Guard cannot put them without budget allocations from Congress.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/bouy.jpg
Channel bouy with lights


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/channelbouy.jpg

The latest sinkings where many lives were lost can be blamed also to MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Wish to add that everytime a sink sunk, the Shipowner always get compensated by the Insurance companies by
two or three times the cost of their insured vessel.

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310087.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310088.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310089.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310090.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310093.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx111/radmeltdown/vessels/PC310094.jpg

Grabe naman yang garbage sa dagat...

^^konti palang yan.. :lol:

Medyo Konti lang dito sa Cebu but the result will some kinda like that :)

When pa sila last nag-acquire ng ship ang Nenaco?

Walang kasing dumi ang dagat sa South Harbor :bash: super yak :ohno:

Back from holidays: thousands stranded in Batangas, Calapan ports
Thousands of passengers remained stranded at the ports of Calapan and Batangas on Monday as the number of roll-on roll-of (RORO) vessels proved insufficient to accommodate the surge of tourists rushing to go back home from the long holidays, even as maritime authorities imposed stricter measures against overloading.

Coast Guard Calapan Station Manager Lt. Sr. Grade Algier Ricafrente told ANC in an interview that inside the Capalan port alone, an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 travelers have been stranded since Saturday. The figure was on top of the passengers, private vehicles, buses and trucks that were piling outside the port.

According to Ricafrente, while the volume of tourists increased this year, the number of RORO vessels sailing to and from the Batangas port remained unchanged.

On top of this, the Maritime Industry Authority recently also imposed stricter directives on inter-island travel, after a series of sea mishaps during the holiday season claimed several lives. These stricter measures also contributed to the overcrowding at the posts, Ricafrente said.

Since tragedy struck the M/V Baleno 9 last week, Ricafrente said authorities now ensure that all passengers are listed in the manifest and that lashings are in place prior to sailing.

Meanwhile, some passengers could not help but get annoyed by the problem, even as they urged the government to come up with immediate solutions.

"Kami may trabaho kami, eh, gawan nila ng paraan (We have to get back to our jobs, so they should find a way [to solve this problem])," said a stranded passenger in an interview with GMA News' Dano TingCungco.

Ricafrente said they are now implementing “staggered" trip schedules to increase the vessels that would transport travelers to their destination. Nonetheless, he warned that given the volume of tourists, the government might not be able to resolve the problem until Thursday, or three to four days from now.

Ricafrente said they have set a Thursday deadline to solve this crowding problem, “that all these people currently stranded will be able to board RORO vessels."

Meanwhile, he said that Calapan city officials are already seeking ways to provide assistance to stranded passengers.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Arnan Panaligan likewise instructed barangay officials to allow the travelers to use the barangay halls to charge their cell phones and as temporary places to rest.
– Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/180766/back-from-holidays-thousands-stranded-in-batangas-calapan-ports)

My older brother is one of those stranded in Calapan. He left Iloilo around 5am Sunday morning and until now, he's still not home.

@ Happosai: Parang burak na yung dagat :lol:

Asan yung mga Badjao? hehe

^^ Badjao's won't stay for too long.
Mabaho kasi eh! :lol:

Walang kasing dumi ang dagat sa South Harbor :bash: super yak :ohno:

baka ibig mong sabihin ay North Harbor.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/1northandsouthharbor.jpg

Sa South Harbor ay medyo okey compare sa floating garbage sa North Harbor and all the piers and waters up to Navotas Fish Port.

@ Happosai: Parang burak na yung dagat :lol:

Asan yung mga Badjao? hehe

^^Madami nanamang badjao sa terminal ng NN. Thursday pa ang alis nila pero nasa terminal na sila ngayon. Ilang jeep din na puno ng badjao yung dumating kanina.

Maganda pa ang dagat sa pier dos sa lagay na yan. Di mo pa nakita ng napuno yan ng waterlilys yan. Mapapagkamalan mong bukid... :lol:

cotabato pricess as being broken into scrap... may she rest in pieces!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4232789213_862756491c_m.jpg

baka ibig mong sabihin ay North Harbor.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/1northandsouthharbor.jpg

Sa South Harbor ay medyo okey compare sa floating garbage sa North Harbor and all the piers and waters up to Navotas Fish Port.


Yup! North Harbor :lol: sowi!

Manila Port - June 2009

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4259180726_93ec8dc36d_b.jpg

^^Nice shot Uncle Brad... What port is she taken?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4256618814_4616bb3653.jpg
^^M/V Don Alfredo Sr. docking at Pier 4

^^Nice shot Uncle Brad... What port is she taken?

4

Happi, it be taken at the Manila Port but not sure what dock.
Was taken while photographing the DMU unloading.

As you can see, I am interested in virtually all Philippine transport :lol:

Taken same day. The ship the DMUs came in on.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4260908709_756452c40e_b.jpg

^^Hmmm.. I'm confused... Are you taking picture of the vessel or the girl?? :nuts:

So that port is in the Harbor Centre?

^^Hmmm.. I'm confused... Are you taking picture of the vessel or the girl?? :nuts:

So that port is in the Harbor Centre?

She accidently got in the way of my ship photo :lol::lol:

Yep the Harbor Centre, Huge place.

Brad

^^Hmmm.. I'm confused... Are you taking picture of the vessel or the girl?? :nuts:

So that port is in the Harbor Centre?

Oh yeah, I should mention that this maganda Korean lady was in charge of the shipping of the DMUs out to the Philippines.
I had a long talk to her there, despite the rain and have talked on the email a few times since.

She was quite surprised to see an Assie there covering the event :lol:

She accidently got in the way of my ship photo :lol::lol:

Yep the Harbor Centre, Huge place.
Brad

Accidentaly?? She's standing there.. :lol:

I'ved been there quite a times already. NENACO has a container yard inside the Harbor Center.

Oh yeah, I should mention that this maganda Korean lady was in charge of the shipping of the DMUs out to the Philippines.
I had a long talk to her there, despite the rain and have talked on the email a few times since.

She was quite surprised to see an Assie there covering the event :lol:

^^Did you manage to get her YM ID, FB account and her cellphone number?? :lol::lol:

You should tell her that your a filipino trapped inside an aussie body.. :nuts:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4268992750_e71373c107.jpg
^^SJW docked at Pier2, North Harbor

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4271671372_8d83733177.jpg
^^San Sebastian

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4270918101_2e2e37fde8.jpg
^^San Paolo

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4271661804_4db8aa3812.jpg
^^San Paolo

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4271660176_758865e46e.jpg
^^San Paolo

^^Did you manage to get her YM ID, FB account and her cellphone number?? :lol::lol:

You should tell her that your a filipino trapped inside an aussie body.. :nuts:

Well I did get her address and cell phone number yes.

You gave me an idea, must search her on Facebook :-)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/nakayome/vessels/newvessel.jpg
^^My rendering of the rumored NN acquired vessel, The Sunflower Kogane.

Photo courtesy of http://www.wakanatsu.com/photo/sfkogane.html

^^ But reportedly, ATS wants one ship out of the two sisterships
A person from Cebu which is a representatives of ATS to watch
for Kogane and her sister. Let's watch NN vs. ATS bid for those
vessels..

^^I'ved heard that ATS already back out of the deal and NN acquired both vessels.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4279146442_a52cddba88.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4278404957_9876791238.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4278408159_68fc19b70f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4279160394_fa02dd8e7f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/4279168924_a865296999.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4279176098_7cde52feb7.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4279179492_5fab4f5719.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4278435423_016c002fdd.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4279197746_b633f1f552.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4279211186_e904020960.jpg

^^ Maybe its not true? Or Let's just wait in the 2nd quarter

Isn't it that San Paolo got burned in the Port of Nasipit years ago?

Isn't it that San Paolo got burned in the Port of Nasipit years ago?


^^

nope it was the St.Francis of Assisi that caught fire while alongside at Nasipit port.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4291823834_0b14c89fb8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4291823832_3d025493d5.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4291823852_4afe4b6301.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4291823844_e942ab8648.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4291823856_de77da0c0f.jpg
^^San Agustin Uno docking at Pier 2, North Harbor, Manila

NENACO pa din tawag sa Negros Navigation?

^ Well, That's their "nickname"

British & French tourists in top cruise ship visit RP
Posted on January 20th, 2010 under The Good Balita

The famous cruise ship MS Spirit of Adventure has docked in the Philippines bringing in more than 300 British and French nationals to the country.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano hailed the ship’s arrival, saying, “Complementing our chartered flights, the cruise ship tours are fast becoming a competitive source of arrivals, bringing with it the high-spending segment from Europe, US and Asia.”

The DOT welcomed the guests with cultural performances on each port of call. “A festive welcome serves to let them know that they have reached Philippine shores, where the people are warm and wonderful, and the destinations equally so,” shared Eduardo Jarque Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

The cruise ship’s Master Captain Frank Allica also noted, “The reception is one of the grandest I have ever seen in all the places we have been. Our guests can’t wait to see more of this warm and welcoming country.”

The MS Spirit of Adventure, owned by Acromas Shipping Limited in England included the Philippines in its 16-day tour of Asia-– the Charm of the Exotic East Voyage.

The Berlin, the MS Spirit of Adventure was also touted the “Love Boat’’ for its romantic cruise tour that lures passengers to the exotic charms of Asia.

The Philippines had the longest itinerary in the tour, as the ship docked in four different ports of call which included Cebu, Boracay, Manila, and La Union. p>Upon reaching Manila, guests were treated to the Manila Old Town Tour which featured Intramuros, Manila Hotel and the Rizal Park. Other guests hiked off to Tagaytay to see the Taal Volcano.

After Manila, the luxury cruise liner proceeded to La Union for a tour of Baguio. The tourists were brought to a weaving school where students use hand-operated wooden looms.

The Baguio tour also introduced the Tam-awan Village which displayed century-old Igorot huts, Mines View Park for a panoramic sight-seeing of the summer capital, the Mansion House, Wright Park and Session Road to the guests.

In Cebu, the group was brought to a historical exploration of the city’s landmarks, shopping at Carbon Market and an Arts and Crafts tour, which included trips to factories of acoustic guitars, bandurias (Filipino mandolins), banjos, ukeleles, as well as handcrafted jewelry.

Some of the tourists also went to Bohol to see its eco-sites such as the Chocolate Hills and the Loboc River.

Dismal weather, however, prohibited the ship from docking at the pristine White Beach of Boracay where it was also scheduled for a stop.

Aside from the Philippines, the ship listed Malaysia, Brunei, Borneo, and Hong Kong in its 16-day cruise itinerary.
http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=10049

Picture of her:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/2571952543_0af334f658.jpg
by Capt.Gorgeous in Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_salter/2571952543/

is it true that ATS' Our Lady of Good Voyage (OLGV) and SLI's Princess of the Earth (POT-Earth) is sked for drydock soon?

"K"

Yes, OLO Good Voyage of ATS will be out of service until April for drydocking and repairs. Not sure with POT Earth though.

(BTW, i'm shipspotter223 in Flickr and i'm sure a few members around here know me in Flickr, especially sharkleman125, and this is my first post in SSC! :lol:)

Yes, OLO Good Voyage of ATS will be out of service until April for drydocking and repairs. Not sure with POT Earth though.

(BTW, i'm shipspotter223 in Flickr and i'm sure a few members around here know me in Flickr, especially sharkleman125, and this is my first post in SSC! :lol:)


ahoy there mate...:banana:
here's a photo of Our Lady of Good Voyage during her days as CFC's flagship

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3347350514_9cf37ce5e4.jpg

^^Hey there Badz! Thanks for the greeting! :colgate:

Going back, i've heard that she will be phased out, and perhaps ATS will acquire a new ship to replace her.

@theinvisibleman
Welcome in SSC! The more the merrier :lol:
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Thanks John! :cool:
So far, I'm enjoying my stay here in SSC! :D

About the Kogane:
Its already a 4-way fight between:
* ATS
* Nenaco
* Korean Company
* Chinese Company

About the Kogane:
Its already a 4-way fight between:
* ATS
* Nenaco
* Korean Company
* Another Korean Company
Actually, the fourth bidder is a Chinese company. And it seems that the favorite between the four is the Korean, because they have deeper pockets. Still, we shouldn't lose hope. :)

It won't appear if you didn't make it since the first post.
I'm a long-time member and a forumer here, that's why i made
my signature appear.

And nice signature :D But I only have a Visa Card :lol:

If only NN and ATS would make a tie-up to buy
the ships. Then they can have a share between the two.

^^Hahaha! Thanks! Maybe i should include Visa next time. :lol:
Going back, i've heard from a source that Filipina Princess is the next SLI ship to sail.

^^ Really? Its good for SLI. To repay all its debts.

It really is good for SLI. Especially that Filipina Princess is one of the biggest money makers for the company.

Cebu Harbour Photos

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4296880765_0af7ef1e92.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4297601204_3c974b2224.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4296840933_5eb3750c53.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4297584634_d200f44601.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4297552960_ae74fa0585.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4297552708_81b058747c.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4296808709_b44027b083.jpg

for more pics please visit our PSSS FlickR site below

glad to see you here shipspotter223... dumadami na tayo dito hehehe...

"K"

ahoy there mate...:banana:
here's a photo of Our Lady of Good Voyage during her days as CFC's flagship

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3347350514_9cf37ce5e4.jpg

thanks for sharing oninBadz... OLGV is indeed a beauty...

"K"

Ano naba ang status ng SLI ngayon? sayang talaga sila mas gusto ko pa naman sumakay ng barko nila keysa sa Superferry.

Ano naba ang status ng SLI ngayon? sayang talaga sila mas gusto ko pa naman sumakay ng barko nila keysa sa Superferry.
So far, 3 of their passenger vessels have now been been allowed to sail with passengers. It is rumored that SLI will resume full passenger operations this year.

^^ from the pics above, grey na ang gothong?

;50723037']^^ from the pics above, grey na ang gothong?
Nope, their ships are gray right now because they are still scraping off the old paint.

So far, 3 of their passenger vessels have now been been allowed to sail with passengers. It is rumored that SLI will resume full passenger operations this year.

3 passengers = 1) princess of the south, 2) princess of the eath & 3) Filipinas Princess?? i thought, bibiyahe pa lang ang Filipinas Princess?

"K"

Nope, the third pax ship is Princess of the Caribbean. Filipina Princess hasn't been allowed to sail yet, although there are rumors she is the next SLI pax ship to sail.

So far, 3 of their passenger vessels have now been been allowed to sail with passengers. It is rumored that SLI will resume full passenger operations this year.


Thanks! sana mag change sila ng motif na mas malayo sa green para maalis sa isip ng mga tao whatever bad impressions from the past. But most importantly, bumili sila ng mga bagong barko to replace their old fleet.

Thanks! sana mag change sila ng motif na mas malayo sa green para maalis sa isip ng mga tao whatever bad impressions from the past. But most importantly, bumili sila ng mga bagong barko to replace their old fleet.
Actually, they've already changed their colors to a pink and orange motif.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelmysterio_713/4296828905/in/pool-psss

Nope, the third pax ship is Princess of the Caribbean. Filipina Princess hasn't been allowed to sail yet, although there are rumors she is the next SLI pax ship to sail.

any idea on the route of Carribbean?

"K"

ilan pa kayang mga fishing boat/smaller vessels na ang kapitan ay pawang experience lang ang pinanghahawakan?

"K"

-------------------------------------------

'Anatalia captain has bogus license'
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated January 28, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The captain of the fishing vessel that collided with the passenger ship M/V Catalyn-B that left at least 25 people dead last month, reportedly used a bogus license and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) might file charges against him.

Commodore Luis Tuason Jr., Philippine Coast Guard-National Capital Region-Central Luzon district commander, who chairs the Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) on the sea collision, yesterday said Regulo Libril, captain of F/B Anatalia, has a fake PRC license for a major patron.

The PRC also issued a certificate denying it granted a license to Libril.

Libril allegedly admitted during a recent SBMI hearing at the PCG headquarters that he met a person in Navotas City and paid P5,000, and after three days of waiting, he got his PRC license for a major patron last July.

Legally, a person is issued a major patron license if he is a high school graduate, has met the number of years of experience at sea, and has passed an oral assessment and an examination.

Since the SBMI is only tasked to determine the administrative liability of the owners, captains and crew of the two vessels involved, it is up to other government agencies to assess if there is a need to file any criminal cases against them.

“The PRC can file a case against him, maybe falsification of license,” Tuason said.

The SBMI was also informed that Libril reportedly did not have a chart of Manila Bay, was not aware of the rules on collision, and did not undergo formal training in the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme (VTSS).

“Whatever knowledge he has on the VTSS, he only got it from overhearing the conversations of other people,” Tuason said.

The SBMI was also informed that Libril reportedly did not have a chart of Manila Bay, was not aware of the rules on collision, and did not undergo formal training in the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme (VTSS).

“Whatever knowledge he has on the VTSS, he only got it from overhearing the conversations of other people,” Tuason said.[/QUOTE]

^^

since when did the maritime world had rule of collision?:lol: i've been sailing for around 12years now as an officer,but never heard,that navigators should have formal training in VTSS:nuts: i hope the writer of this column should research more deeper next time,i'll just have to give some hints then.

there's no such thing as rules of collision,the actual rule goes like this
ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION
i suggest also the Collision Regulation)COLREG wherein you can find rule relating to navigation inside TSS.:)

any idea on the route of Carribbean?

"K"
I think she's plying her original Manila-Dumaguete-Ozamis-Cebu route.

The SBMI was also informed that Libril reportedly did not have a chart of Manila Bay, was not aware of the rules on collision, and did not undergo formal training in the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme (VTSS).

“Whatever knowledge he has on the VTSS, he only got it from overhearing the conversations of other people,” Tuason said.

^^

since when did the maritime world had rule of collision?:lol: i've been sailing for around 12years now as an officer,but never heard,that navigators should have formal training in VTSS:nuts: i hope the writer of this column should research more deeper next time,i'll just have to give some hints then.

there's no such thing as rules of collision,the actual rule goes like this
ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION
i suggest also the Collision Regulation)COLREG wherein you can find rule relating to navigation inside TSS.:)[/QUOTE]


I am wondering what did they mean about " formal training in VTSS"
In the International Rules of the Road usually called Collision Regulations, the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme is already included. Also the VTSS is also mentioned in BA Charts and I guess also in NAMRI Charts, and also in BA Port Informations books.

About the sinking of MB Catalyn and the other vessel, I guess those Major patrons onboard the two vessels, a fishing vessel and a small coastal vessel, don't even know or aware of the Rules of the Road. How can MARINA gave them license without ascertaining that they know the basic rules of the collision regulation.

Photos taken 29th Jan.

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01683.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01684.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01686.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01687.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01688.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01712.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01716.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01755.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01756.jpg

Photos taken last 29th Jan. 2010.


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/3DSC01775.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01773.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01767.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01754.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01723.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01727.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01728.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01746.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/DSC01748.jpg


You can see more photos in Jibrael Angel Blog :

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2010/01/southern-institute-of-maritime-studies.html




QjDVcp24DoQ



jl3ef1cambU


9purQ74zKDs

^^

@avenger

:)nice photos up there..so how was the ride to cebu onboard P.of the South?
there were many people infront of the bridge,was it a drill or something?
yah it's too bad to see no lashings on the cars onboard,but if they lashed it with their rigid lashing chains or belts then i would gladly say never mind the lashing,kalsuhan nlang yung kotse baka magasgas pa:lol: how about the pax volume of that trip?i really hope SLI can survive with the crisis they're experiencing right now.:)

^^

since when did the maritime world had rule of collision?:lol: i've been sailing for around 12years now as an officer,but never heard,that navigators should have formal training in VTSS:nuts: i hope the writer of this column should research more deeper next time,i'll just have to give some hints then.

there's no such thing as rules of collision,the actual rule goes like this
ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION
i suggest also the Collision Regulation)COLREG wherein you can find rule relating to navigation inside TSS.:)


I am wondering what did they mean about " formal training in VTSS"
In the International Rules of the Road usually called Collision Regulations, the Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme is already included. Also the VTSS is also mentioned in BA Charts and I guess also in NAMRI Charts, and also in BA Port Informations books.

About the sinking of MB Catalyn and the other vessel, I guess those Major patrons onboard the two vessels, a fishing vessel and a small coastal vessel, don't even know or aware of the Rules of the Road. How can MARINA gave them license without ascertaining that they know the basic rules of the collision regulation.[/QUOTE]

^^
all TSS imposed in all countries are published in the weekly publication or the Nautical Publication(Notices to Mariners)regardless of what type of charts used.charts are corrected every week by the way.TSS is not really a big deal,there's always an imposed flow of traffic which is good so ships can follow the lane with respect on where they're heading.and for ships joining the lane,as the COLREG says,a vessel shall join a TSS traffic by entering 90degress to the lane so it is clear for other vessels in the lane that the ship is crossing and can execute preventive measures.and fishing boats engaged in fishing are not allowed in TSS.

for the major patrons,it's actually the PRC that is releasing major and minor patron licenses,before it was the coast guards and later on to MARINA and now in PRC.:)

^^

@avenger

:)nice photos up there..so how was the ride to cebu onboard P.of the South?
there were many people infront of the bridge,was it a drill or something?
yah it's too bad to see no lashings on the cars onboard,but if they lashed it with their rigid lashing chains or belts then i would gladly say never mind the lashing,kalsuhan nlang yung kotse baka magasgas pa:lol: how about the pax volume of that trip?i really hope SLI can survive with the crisis they're experiencing right now.:)

the ride to Cebu ?,
well I accompanied only those "students" or "participants" in the maritime training courses that held their practicum in that vessel from about 0530 hrs to 0900 hours only.

we disembarked on that vessel about an hour before they sailed BUT no signs of any passenger boarding nor any sign of passenger in their terminal.

[QUOTE^^
all TSS imposed in all countries are published in the weekly publication or the Nautical Publication(Notices to Mariners)regardless of what type of charts used.charts are corrected every week by the way.TSS is not really a big deal,there's always an imposed flow of traffic which is good so ships can follow the lane with respect on where they're heading.and for ships joining the lane,as the COLREG says,a vessel shall join a TSS traffic by entering 90degress to the lane so it is clear for other vessels in the lane that the ship is crossing and can execute preventive measures.and fishing boats engaged in fishing are not allowed in TSS.

for the major patrons,it's actually the PRC that is releasing major and minor patron licenses,before it was the coast guards and later on to MARINA and now in PRC.:)[/QUOTE]

Yes I knew that most charts like the British Admiralty, US and Japanese charts included the Traffic Separation Scheme / Zone in their charts, but i have not seen yet a NAMRIA chart.

About joining the TSS, in joining the beginning of a traffice separation zone, it should be entered with small angle as possible. The other part of the zone should be entered at righ angle (or 90 deg)

By the way, posting here the charts of Manila Bay with TSS. You have mentioned that fishing vessel should not enter the TSS, that is okey if there is a designated Inshore Traffic Zone like in the Strait Hormuz in the entrance to Persian Gulf.

But even if there is an inshore traffic zone parallel and adjacent to the Traffic Separation Zone, those Major Patron commanding those fishing vesselsand small coastal vessels wll not know it since I doubt if they even know or seen the Collision Regulations and Charts with TSS line in Corregidor and in Verde Island Passage. I am not sure also if those Merchant Marine Officers in Interisland vessel were practicing the Rules of the Road eventhough they were graduates also of BSMT like their counterpart in the foreign-going ships plying foreign flag.

RE-EDIT :
By the way, at present time the Licenses for Major Patron is being issued by MARINA.



http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/collmanilabay1.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/collmanilabay2.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/colrega.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/colregb.jpg

@Avenger... nice shots of Pier 6. Parang ang sikip pala dyan. Di pa ako nakakapasok sa pier ng Sulpicio. :lol:

Yes I knew that most charts like the British Admiralty, US and Japanese charts included the Traffic Separation Scheme / Zone in their charts, but i have not seen yet a NAMRIA chart.

About joining the TSS, in joining the beginning of a traffice separation zone, it should be entered with small angle as possible. The other part of the zone should be entered at righ angle (or 90 deg)

By the way, posting here the charts of Manila Bay with TSS. You have mentioned that fishing vessel should not enter the TSS, that is okey if there is a designated Inshore Traffic Zone like in the Strait Hormuz in the entrance to Persian Gulf.

But even if there is an inshore traffic zone parallel and adjacent to the Traffic Separation Zone, those Major Patron commanding those fishing vesselsand small coastal vessels wll not know it since I doubt if they even know or seen the Collision Regulations and Charts with TSS line in Corregidor and in Verde Island Passage. I am not sure also if those Merchant Marine Officers in Interisland vessel were practicing the Rules of the Road eventhough they were graduates also of BSMT like their counterpart in the foreign-going ships plying foreign flag. By the way, the lincense for Major Patron is given not by MARINA and not by PRC.

^^

inshore traffic are imposed if there's enough space in the area.actually fishing vessels can navigate inside TSS but not those engaged in fishing.
in fairness to my fellow mandaragat,i don't think they don't have any knowledge at all.they do have the most important thing to have which is good seamanship.the most obvious problem is that laws in our country not only at sea are poorly imposed yet the authorities are shouting for strict compliance:ohno: interisland and seafarers working abroad share the same knowledge in navigation and seamanship,i don't see much difference.i've sailed in all oceans and seas around still the same there's always lousy people making waves even worse than those only having major patron licenses.:nuts:

so if MARINA and PRC are not releasing Major Patron licenses,does it mean that it's back to coast guards turf?when i took my third stripe exam at PRC i also talked with one seafarer who's applying for a major patron license,he was a former bosun in overseas shipping for 30years,and decided to take command on local waters.

Yes I knew that most charts like the British Admiralty, US and Japanese charts included the Traffic Separation Scheme / Zone in their charts, but i have not seen yet a NAMRIA chart.

About joining the TSS, in joining the beginning of a traffice separation zone, it should be entered with small angle as possible. The other part of the zone should be entered at righ angle (or 90 deg)

By the way, posting here the charts of Manila Bay with TSS. You have mentioned that fishing vessel should not enter the TSS, that is okey if there is a designated Inshore Traffic Zone like in the Strait Hormuz in the entrance to Persian Gulf.

But even if there is an inshore traffic zone parallel and adjacent to the Traffic Separation Zone, those Major Patron commanding those fishing vesselsand small coastal vessels wll not know it since I doubt if they even know or seen the Collision Regulations and Charts with TSS line in Corregidor and in Verde Island Passage. I am not sure also if those Merchant Marine Officers in Interisland vessel were practicing the Rules of the Road eventhough they were graduates also of BSMT like their counterpart in the foreign-going ships plying foreign flag. By the way, the lincense for Major Patron is given not by MARINA and not by PRC.

^^

inshore traffic are imposed if there's enough space in the area.actually fishing vessels can navigate inside TSS but not those engaged in fishing.
in fairness to my fellow mandaragat,i don't think they don't have any knowledge at all.they do have the most important thing to have which is good seamanship.the most obvious problem is that laws in our country not only at sea are poorly imposed yet the authorities are shouting for strict compliance:ohno: interisland and seafarers working abroad share the same knowledge in navigation and seamanship,i don't see much difference.i've sailed in all oceans and seas around still the same there's always lousy people making waves even worse than those only having major patron licenses.:nuts:

so if MARINA and PRC are not releasing Major Patron licenses,does it mean that it's back to coast guards turf?when i took my third stripe exam at PRC i also talked with one seafarer who's applying for a major patron license,he was a former bosun in overseas shipping for 30years,and decided to take command on local waters.

Correction to my previous posting :

At present time, the licenses for Major Patron, Marine Diesel Mechanic and other local licenses is being issued by MARINA.

@Avenger... nice shots of Pier 6. Parang ang sikip pala dyan. Di pa ako nakakapasok sa pier ng Sulpicio. :lol:

masikip talaga. I have seen the passenger terminal of Sulpicio and from there it is dangerous to walk up to the gangway of the ship since there were forlikts and other vehicles moving.

Yes I knew that most charts like the British Admiralty, US and Japanese charts included the Traffic Separation Scheme / Zone in their charts, but i have not seen yet a NAMRIA chart.

About joining the TSS, in joining the beginning of a traffice separation zone, it should be entered with small angle as possible. The other part of the zone should be entered at righ angle (or 90 deg)

By the way, posting here the charts of Manila Bay with TSS. You have mentioned that fishing vessel should not enter the TSS, that is okey if there is a designated Inshore Traffic Zone like in the Strait Hormuz in the entrance to Persian Gulf.

But even if there is an inshore traffic zone parallel and adjacent to the Traffic Separation Zone, those Major Patron commanding those fishing vesselsand small coastal vessels wll not know it since I doubt if they even know or seen the Collision Regulations and Charts with TSS line in Corregidor and in Verde Island Passage. I am not sure also if those Merchant Marine Officers in Interisland vessel were practicing the Rules of the Road eventhough they were graduates also of BSMT like their counterpart in the foreign-going ships plying foreign flag. By the way, the lincense for Major Patron is given not by MARINA and not by PRC.

^^

inshore traffic are imposed if there's enough space in the area.actually fishing vessels can navigate inside TSS but not those engaged in fishing.
in fairness to my fellow mandaragat,i don't think they don't have any knowledge at all.they do have the most important thing to have which is good seamanship.the most obvious problem is that laws in our country not only at sea are poorly imposed yet the authorities are shouting for strict compliance:ohno: interisland and seafarers working abroad share the same knowledge in navigation and seamanship,i don't see much difference.i've sailed in all oceans and seas around still the same there's always lousy people making waves even worse than those only having major patron licenses.:nuts:

so if MARINA and PRC are not releasing Major Patron licenses,does it mean that it's back to coast guards turf?when i took my third stripe exam at PRC i also talked with one seafarer who's applying for a major patron license,he was a former bosun in overseas shipping for 30years,and decided to take command on local waters.

Yes, the space in the north channel and south channel of Corregidor is not enough to have an inshore traffic zone for fishing vessels and wooden-hull domestic vessel. Because of that fact, the Coast Guard should have maintained a strict VTIS (vessel traffic information service) with VHF Radio station, AIS Set (Automatic Identification of Ship), Inmarsat-C Vessel Tracking, Voyage Data Recorder, and RADAR station at Limbones, El Fraile, and Corregidor island.

(Voyage Data Recorder is similar to Aircraft blackbox, which records the last 12 hours data and coversation inside the craft) If our inter-island vessels were fitted with VDU then it will be easy for Marine and Insurance investigator to know the cause of the accident or disaster, provided the VDU can be recovered from the sunken ship, if the depth is okey for diver.)


In many places in the world where there were Traffic Separation Scheme, it is also complemented with VTIS, like in Singapore-Malacca straits, English Channel, Juan de Fuca strait (entering Vancouver BC), etc. Below were the examples of TSS complemented by VTIS.

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis3.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis2.jpg

Other example of VTS which our Coast Guard can use as a guide for devising a Vessel Traffic System apllicable to North and South Channel off Corregidor island, Verde Island passage, and other choke points in our archipelago.

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis1.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis2-1.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis3-1.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis4.jpg


http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/emmanuel_esber/vtis5.jpg

Good day, people.

I'm Rôver of the Philippine Ship Spotters' Society.

Welcome to Skyscrapercity Rôver!
Welcome aboard. Glad you came! :D

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

AIS Set (Automatic Identification of Ship), Inmarsat-C Vessel Tracking

^^

AIS set yes our very own CG needs it but INMARSAT-C not really.you see in GMDSS there are 4 sea areas A1-A4...we belong to A1 coz if we talk about philippines as an archipelago,or we have a lot of coastlines to watch out and A1 means 50nm from coastline or VHF range actually.INMARSAT-C belong to A3-A4 requirements.meaning this are the areas some 150nm away from the coast line which the fact is out of our CG's capabilities.back to A1,we only need a decent and effective VHF RX/TX for our CG,if possible in all strategic points of our country's navigable waters.in an emergency why would you call out for help on those ships some 100-150nm away when there's somebody out on the VHF range,doesn't make sense really.not unless onboard a ship and it's trading in high seas then A1-A4 should be complied but for our very own LES i don't think it's badly needed..

a GMDSS workstation:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3492858361_feb6dd54d9.jpg


(Voyage Data Recorder is similar to Aircraft blackbox, which records the last 12 hours data and coversation inside the craft) If our inter-island vessels were fitted with VDU then it will be easy for Marine and Insurance investigator to know the cause of the accident or disaster, provided the VDU can be recovered from the sunken ship, if the depth is okey for diver.)

^^

VDR(Voyage Data Recorder)or the black box which is orange in color:lol:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3378448488_6026be7f93.jpg

it should be handy if we have it in local waters,but not really badly needed.old ship which has no ECDIS onboard would have to have one to be VDR compliant too,i don't think our local players are that stable to have one yet.actually it's recording 72hours of maneuvering datas and 12hours of critical dats.

AIS Set (Automatic Identification of Ship), Inmarsat-C Vessel Tracking

^^

AIS set yes our very own CG needs it but INMARSAT-C not really.you see in GMDSS there are 4 sea areas A1-A4...we belong to A1 coz if we talk about philippines as an archipelago,or we have a lot of coastlines to watch out and A1 means 50nm from coastline or VHF range actually.INMARSAT-C belong to A3-A4 requirements.meaning this are the areas some 150nm away from the coast line which the fact is out of our CG's capabilities.back to A1,we only need a decent and effective VHF RX/TX for our CG,if possible in all strategic points of our country's navigable waters.in an emergency why would you call out for help on those ships some 100-150nm away when there's somebody out on the VHF range,doesn't make sense really.not unless onboard a ship and it's trading in high seas then A1-A4 should be complied but for our very own LES i don't think it's badly needed..

a GMDSS workstation:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3492858361_feb6dd54d9.jpg


(Voyage Data Recorder is similar to Aircraft blackbox, which records the last 12 hours data and coversation inside the craft) If our inter-island vessels were fitted with VDU then it will be easy for Marine and Insurance investigator to know the cause of the accident or disaster, provided the VDU can be recovered from the sunken ship, if the depth is okey for diver.)

^^

VDR(Voyage Data Recorder)or the black box which is orange in color:lol:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3378448488_6026be7f93.jpg

it should be handy if we have it in local waters,but not really badly needed.old ship which has no ECDIS onboard would have to have one to be VDR compliant too,i don't think our local players are that stable to have one yet.actually it's recording 72hours of maneuvering datas and 12hours of critical dats.


My former ship owned by Eastern Shipping Lines (Manila) has VDR even without ECDIS onboard.

VDR is compulsary for foreign-going vessel even without ECDIS and it should be required also for inter-island vessels since most them sank without anyone knowing what really happened. :lol:

Vessel Tracking system is also compulsary for foreign-going vessels and it is using the Inmarsat-C system. Inmarsat - C set will be beneficial to our domestic vessels since that system will automatically gave weather report.

In the case of the Philippines, vessel with INM-C can get weather report from Japan and Hongkong, since I doubt the shipping companies provide their domestic vessels with weather report every day. While Inm-C will give weather report to vessels every 6 hours.

About VHF systems, it is only good in good weather for a distance of not more than 30 miles and not for typhoon-prone countries like the Philippines. Inmarsat -C is much better communication system at any weather.


Kindly note that I am giving this information out my previous experiences onboard foreign-going Bulk and Container vessels for quite many years.

My former ship owned by Eastern Shipping Lines (Manila) has VDR even without ECDIS onboard.

VDR is compulsary for foreign-going vessel and it should be required also for inter-island vessels since most them sank without anyone knowing what really happened.

Vessel Tracking system is also compulsary for foreign-going vessels and it is using the Inmarsat-C system. Inmarsat - C set will be beneficial to our domestic vessels since that system will automatically gave weather report.

In the case of the Philippines, vessel with INM-C can get weather report from Japan and Hongkong, since I doubt the shipping companies provide their domestic vessels with weather report every day. While Inm-C will give weather report to vessels every 6 hours.

About VHF systems, it is only good in good weather for a distance of not more than 30 miles and not for typhoon-prone countries like the Philippines. Inmarsat -C is much better communication system at any weather.


Kindly note that I am giving this information out my previous experiences onboard foreign-going Bulk and Container vessels for quite many years.

^^

VDR is not yet compulsory to all ships as of the moment.only those built after 2008 ships should be compliant.strict compliance will be 2012 but not those built before 1990.it would just depend on the operators as per class society requiremtns if they'll comply.even some maersk ships are yet to have VDR's by 2012.


Vessel tracking system or AIS is compulsory following the 911 incident.

yes VHF radiotelephony is not that good in bad weather but im talking about DSC via VHF.and VHF range is reduced but not that much which is not that bad really.INMARSAT-C is too much really and it has some shares of lapses too.maybe UHF/MF tx/rx could be a plus..

so you worked with Eastern Lines before?is that the chiongbian owned company?i've worked on maersk containers and some wallenius car carriers in thae past and right now onboard chemical tankers.are youfrom deck or engine?

for weather forecast and advisory,we don't rely much now on INMARSAT as we have a special service provider in the company called SPOS wherein weather forecast are given real time every seconds of the day.it's also one of the this so we can avoid the annoying and tree killer multi page EGC print outs.:lol:

^^

VDR is not yet compulsory to all ships as of the moment.only those built after 2008 ships should be compliant.strict compliance will be 2012 but not those built before 1990.it would just depend on the operators as per class society requiremtns if they'll comply.even some maersk ships are yet to have VDR's by 2012.


Vessel tracking system or AIS is compulsory following the 911 incident.

yes VHF radiotelephony is not that good in bad weather but im talking about DSC via VHF.and VHF range is reduced but not that much which is not that bad really.INMARSAT-C is too much really and it has some shares of lapses too.maybe UHF/MF tx/rx could be a plus..

so you worked with Eastern Lines before?is that the chiongbian owned company?i've worked on maersk containers and some wallenius car carriers in thae past and right now onboard chemical tankers.are youfrom deck or engine?

for weather forecast and advisory,we don't rely much now on INMARSAT as we have a special service provider in the company called SPOS wherein weather forecast are given real time every seconds of the day.it's also one of the this so we can avoid the annoying and tree killer multi page EGC print outs.:lol:

Oh yes I worked for a few months in ESL owned by the Chiongbian, then last June 2009, my former ship the "Eastern Venus" was bought by a Russian company based in Vladivostok.

Before that, I was in a Handy size Bulk vessels and container vessels of Phil Transmarine Carrier, CF Sharp, Scanfil, Sanko Line, etc.

I am neither from Deck nor Engine.

Pls see my Blog :

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-sea-voyage-with-my-wife-onboard-mv.html

Oh yes I worked for a few months in ESL owned by the Chiongbian, then last June 2009, my former ship the "Eastern Venus" was bought by a Russian company based in Vladivostok.

Before that, I was in a Handy size Bulk vessels and container vessels of Phil Transmarine Carrier, CF Sharp, Scanfil, Sanko Line, etc.

I am neither from Deck nor Engine.

Pls see my Blog :

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-sea-voyage-with-my-wife-onboard-mv.html


nice blogs,seems i've been conversing with pioneers of the seas.i've always been a great admirer of travels,marvelled storie that started from my father's struggles until he rose to ranks,adventures and downsides of sea life and here i am now almost following the same route he took many years back.anyway,may i invite you to PSSS group in flickr.com i am one of only few seafaring member.i know you can even give more light to our salty life at sea.for further link pls.ask assistance to -sharkleman125- he's one eager lad who can explain more how to get in there.:)

@TheAvenger
To get in the Flickr: The Philippine Ships Spotter Society:

1.) If you have a yahoo account, so please log-in your
account in yahoo and register in www.flickr.com

2.) If you already have the account, search in the searchbox
"Philippine Ships Spotters Society" or "PSSS" there is a boxes
above the searchbox "photos","groups","people".

3.) Click on the "groups" and if you found the group's
site then click it. or simply paste this www.flickr.com/groups/psss

4.) If you want to join the group, please click "join this group"
to be a member of the group.

Then it would lead you to the site. :)

We'll be expecting you there :okay:

Good day, people.

I'm Rôver of the Philippine Ship Spotters' Society.
Hey! Welcome to SSC! It's nice to see more members from PSSS in SSC.
:banana::banana::banana:

@TheAvenger
To get in the Flickr: The Philippine Ships Spotter Society:

1.) If you have a yahoo account, so please log-in your
account in yahoo and register in www.flickr.com

2.) If you already have the account, search in the searchbox
"Philippine Ships Spotters Society" or "PSSS" there is a boxes
above the searchbox "photos","groups","people".

3.) Click on the "groups" and if you found the group's
site then click it. or simply paste this www.flickr.com/groups/psss

4.) If you want to join the group, please click "join this group"
to be a member of the group.


Then it would lead you to the site. :)

We'll be expecting you there :okay:

I reckoned I am a member of this group since a month ago. My username in Flicker is Jibrael_Angel

hi all! newbie here :) i wonder if anyone here has an opinion on the policy of transferring international cargo from Manila ports to Batangas and Subic ports being pushed by the Joint Chambers of Commerce, supposedly because Manila ports are very much congested and Batangas and Subic ports are underutilized. :)

They should also consider Cebu cause
it is the place/center of all shipping industries
un the Southern Philippines

hi all! newbie here :) i wonder if anyone here has an opinion on the policy of transferring international cargo from Manila ports to Batangas and Subic ports being pushed by the Joint Chambers of Commerce, supposedly because Manila ports are very much congested and Batangas and Subic ports are underutilized. :)

In my view the Port of Manila should be used only for domestic trade (passenger and cargo) and for International Cruise vessels.

The international cargo destined for Northern Luzon should be discharged in Subic Port and those destined for NCR and Southern Luzon should be discharged in Batangas in order to decongest the cargo truck traffic in Manila.

Likewise those international cargo for transhipment to other neighboring countries can be either discharged in Subic, Batangas, or Cebu City.

There has been news that ATS has won the bid for the Sun Flower sisters (The Kogane and the Nishiki) and that they will be the new SF20 and SF21. Hooray! Kudos to ATS! :lol:
:banana::banana::banana:

So, then again my joke becomes true
Last time my joke is that Cotabato Princess will be
the next to be sunked or to be broken up and then
it became true.

But NENACO failed to got one of the ships. But a BIG VICTORY for ATS.

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Yes, it is a VERY BIG victory for ATS. I commend them for that. :banana::banana::banana:

edit

Ummm, sorry to spoil the celebration, but i mailed our source yesterday and he told me that Sun Flower Line has not yet decided who will get the sisters. They will still make their decision next week. Still, let's not lose hope! :)

Pls see at the below Blog.

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2010/02/luneta-seafarers-centre-at-kalaw-street.html

Ummm, sorry to spoil the celebration, but i mailed our source yesterday and he told me that Sun Flower Line has not yet decided who will get the sisters. They will still make their decision next week. Still, let's not lose hope!

hi invisibleman - according to my source, ATS got the boat already... projection is 2 weeks to bring the ship to PH and about 1 to 2 month for minor repair then she will be sailing na under Superferry colors.

"K"

hi invisibleman - according to my source, ATS got the boat already... projection is 2 weeks to bring the ship to PH and about 1 to 2 month for minor repair then she will be sailing na under Superferry colors.

"K"
Yes, but a reliable source of mine said that the deal hasn't been finalized yet. There is a possibility that ATS will get these ships, but it's not yet final.

^^Mas gusto ko kung NN ang makabili nyan, para sa first voyage ay makalibre ako.. :nuts:

I guess the Guy from the Mactan Channel is
more luckier than the Dancing Porter..

^^Mas gusto ko kung NN ang makabili nyan, para sa first voyage ay makalibre ako.. :nuts:
Sorry, but i actually want ATS to win. :D

I guess the Guy from the Mactan Channel is
more luckier than the Dancing Porter..

cheers to the guy from mactan channel.... :banana: :banana: :banana:

^^But still, until i get any kind of confirmation, i will not yet say that ATS has won and that i will congratulate them.

202 passengers rescued as ships collide

LILOAN Southern Leyte-About 202 passengers, including five infants were saved from two passenger vessel which collided off Liloan wharf in Southern Leyte last Monday.

Reports from the Coast Guard Detachment in Liloan Southern Leyte reaching the office of Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo disclosed that M/V Maharlika 2, a passenger vessel, was hit M/V Ocean King,also a passenger vessel ,while it was approaching and about to dock at the Port of Liloan at 4pm.

Reports said that M/V Maharlika 2 operated by PhilHarbor Ferries & Port Services Inc. had 150 adult passengers onboard and is skippered by Capt. Salvador Entona.

On the other hand,M/V Ocean King 1,operated by Sea Marine Transport Inc. had 47 adult passengers & five infants on board & skippered by one Capt. Leoncio

It was learned that vessels came from Lipata Surigao.

Initial investigation revealed that while M/V Maharlika 2 was about 150m away from the Liloan wharf & making her final approach to dock when M/V Ocean King 1-- for unknown reason--tried to overtake on the starboard (right side) of MV Maharlika 2.

While the MV Ocean King 1 was passing by the eastern portion of M/V Maharlika 2,she suddenly swerved to the left,hitting the
starboard bow freeboard of the other vessel.

M?V Maharlika 2 suffered dented starboard bow freeboard while M/V Ocean King 1 suffered damage on her port (left) accommodation ladder.

Fortunately ,the passengers and crew of both vessels were reportedly safe.

Coast Guard Central Visayas District Com. Rolando Dizon meanwhile ordered an investigation on the incident and directed the both captains of the vessel to submit their respective marine protest respectively.

Source: People's Journal Tonight Feb. 10 2010 issue
By: Efren Montano

Aboitiz to buy more ferries

By Cherry T. Lim and Katlene O. Cacho


THE Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSCC) plans to purchase additional ferries to meet demands of the domestic transport market.

Though no particular date of purchase was given, Stephen Paradies, senior vice-president and chief financial officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), said they plan to
replace the company’s existing ferries. AEV is the publicly-listed holding and investment management company of the Aboitiz group.

The company is looking to bring in two or three Superferry-sized ferries this year “because our existing ferries are getting old,” Paradies said.

ATSC, operator of the Superferry, SuperCat and Cebu Ferries businesses, will try to sell the old ferries that will be replaced.

ATSC owns 34 percent of the domestic freight market and 49 percent of the sea passenger market.

Paradies told Sun.Star Cebu that although airlines dominate the domestic passenger market, this doesn’t stop the company from working to penetrate the transport business. Airlines corner about 72 percent of the passenger market.

Cargo focus

“The lowering of airfare rates of domestic airline companies prompted the company to focus more on cargo business. We have reconfigured our vessels, giving more load capacity on freight,” he said in an interview last Monday.

Paradies said 70 percent of vessels’ load capacity is reserved for freight, with the 30 percent set aside for passengers. He said domestic passenger sea travel began declining in 2004 when airlines started offering budget fares, prompting travelers to shift to air travel.

With the nautical highway, people can now just take the bus, Paradies said, “from Aparri to Davao or Zamboanga.”

Introduced in 2003 as part of the 10-point agenda of President Arroyo to reduce poverty and bring progress to the nation, the Strong Republic Nautical Highway combines highway segments and vehicular ferry routes to create a nationwide vehicle-accessible transport system to transport both people and produce from Luzon to Mindanao.

Paradies said he did not expect sea travel to fall further.

The Aboitiz official said the cargo business has not been affected by the cheap fares offered by airlines because shipping firms’ cargo rates are still lower than air cargo rates.

“People still choose to have their cargos shipped by sea,” he said.

When asked about sales performance last year, Paradies said ATSCC had flat sales due to the sea mishap of the Superferry 9 in September last year.

Lost revenue

“The company had a revenue loss of about P200 million because of the accident and the fleet was temporarily suspended. But after a month, we were glad that passengers came back and the operations resumed,” he said.

The volume of the cargoes went up by six percent last year over 2008, he added.

“Fuel remains to be the big cost in the transport business, we still can’t tell our outlook but we are hoping a positive growth,” Paradies said.

ATSCC currently owns eight passenger and freight vessels, three container ships and six fast crafts.

The refleeting of ATSC also comes after the company sold four passenger ferries in 2007 and 2008, and lost Superferry 9 last year. The Superferry 9 was fully insured, so the company was “paid in full” for the cost of the ship and the insurance claims paid out to passengers. But the grounding of the company’s vessels by the Maritime Industry Authority following the accident, hit the company’s revenues, Paradies said.

The delivery of the new vessels will increase capacity and enable ATSC to improve its revenues, he said.

Last year, ATSCC brought in two container ships at 1,000 TEU capacity each. TEU refers to Twenty Equivalent Units, a unit of measurement which refers to a 20-footer container.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 11, 2010.

@the invisibleman - take it from the news hehehe... earlier today, i spoke with the AE of ATS handling our company.. she said that they were given already clearance to inform their customers that SF20/21 is coming to town & they are formerly sunflowers... proposed routes are combination of any CEB, CGY, IGN, BXU...

"k"

@the invisibleman - take it from the news hehehe... earlier today, i spoke with the AE of ATS handling our company.. she said that they were given already clearance to inform their customers that SF20/21 is coming to town & they are formerly sunflowers... proposed routes are combination of any CEB, CGY, IGN, BXU...

"k"
Okay, i also received confirmation that ATS are really getting the Sun Flowers. I'm very excited to see them in the SuperFerry livery! :D

there seems to be no thread for this. So I started one.

checked it earlier. The fare is maximum 60 pesos from end to end.

How come the schedule starts late from Manila to Taguig? What if you work in Global City and you live in Manila?

Residents slam X-ray machine at entrance to Davao Port

By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Inquirer Mindanao (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100213-253012/Residents-slam-X-ray-machine-at-entrance-to-Davao-Port)
First Posted 16:53:00 02/13/2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—People living near the compound of the Philippine Ports Authority at the Sasa Wharf here said the planned installation of an X-ray machine by the Bureau of Customs at the entrance to port put their health and that of their children at risk.

"When are we going to do something about it? When are we going to oppose this very scary project, when we are already sick? When our children are already ill?" a mother, who identified herself only as Myrna, said in an interview.

Myrna and 54 other residents near the port's Parola area have asked the Department of Health to stop the installation of the facility, which was to be placed near the passengers' pathway.

"Not only passengers would be exposed to radiation but also us, especially our children. What do you think will happen to us if this project pushes through? And what about the employees, who will be constantly exposed to radiation?" added Myrna, whose husband works at the port.

She said this was the reason they wrote Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral last month.

In that letter, the residents cited studies showing that "exposure to X-ray radiation can lead to cancer and is known to cause birth defects, which could even lead to infant death. Radiation is known to be destructive to tissues and can cause damage and mutation on a person's genes."

Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, head of the BOC X-ray Inspection Project, answered the resident's protest through a letter to Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales, saying the fears of the residents were unfounded.

Mangaoang said the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology already gave its go-signal to the project on January 11.

"Logically, the DOH thru the BHDT should not have issued the license to operate if there was (danger of) exposure to X-ray emissions. Thus the allegations of the workers and residents inside the port area are unfounded," Mangaoang said.

If the residents do not trust the BHDT, Mangaoang said the only option left for them is to leave the area.

"Instead of relocating the X-ray scanners, which are government properties, the said residents should be the ones relocated because in the first place, most of them are only squatting therein. Being government properties, the scanners are entitled to a space in a government-owned property, unlike the squatters, who we all know are not lawfully allowed to dwell on government land," Mangaoang said.

She said the X-ray scanners were important for the Bureau of Customs because these could speed up inspection of cargo vans, including empty ones.

Last December, at least 16 kilograms of high-grade cocaine, amounting to about P80 million, were discovered in two empty vans parked inside the old Davao airport. The vans were owned by the Maersk Company.

The discovery of the slabs of cocaine prompted former Port of Davao chief Ronnie Silvestre to order the inspection of all empty container vans being brought to the wharf.

Will this thread also deal with the Pasig river cleanup?

ang travel time pala nito end to end is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Not bad for 60 peso fare. You get to enjoy the pasig river view, airconditioned.

Posted by: Linguine

Bredco Port Aerial View in Bacolod City

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/linguine16/IMG_1379.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/linguine16/IMG_1378.jpg

Aboitiz Transport buys two vessels to hike fleet capacity (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21916:aboitiz-transport-buys-two-vessels-to-hike-fleet-capacity&catid=24:companies&Itemid=59)

MONTHS after the sinking of one of its vessels, Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC) on Tuesday said it purchased two vessels in a move to increase the capacity of its SuperFerry fleet and to boost the growth of its logistics arm.

Aboitiz said in a disclosure that it had purchased two roll-on/roll-off-passenger vessels, currently named MV Sunflower Kogane from the Diamond Ferry Co. Ltd and MV Sunflower Nishiki from Kansai Kisen Kaisha. Both are Japanese firms based in Oita and in Osaka, respectively.

ATSC said it bought the vessels at $7.5 million each. It has a total capacity of loading 400 twenty-foot equivalent units and can carry 2,000 passengers each.

“Aiming towards operational excellence, the vessel purchase is intended to modernize its current fleet to achieve greater efficiencies.

These vessels are also expected to provide additional options for SuperFerry passengers who will be traveling this coming summer season and better support the growing value-added business of 2GO,” Aboitiz said in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The two vessels, weighing about 9,700 gross tons each, will arrive in the country next month.

The vessels will replace MV Superferry9, which sunk off Zamboanga Peninsula in September last year. The new members of the Aboitiz fleet will also serve routes of vessels that have been previously sold. ATSC made the decision to put several ships on the auction bloc to arrest the slide of revenues and pay off maturing debts.

During the third quarter of 2009, ATSC’s revenues fell by P1 billion to P2.44 billion compared with the previous year on higher fuel prices.

For the first three quarters of 2009, ATS registered a net income of P428.8 from the previous year’s net loss of P49.4 million.

Most of ATSC’s ships were grounded early September last year following the sinking of MV SuperFerry9, but the company was able to convince the government that the rest of its vessels are all safe. The Maritime Industry Authority eventually allowed its vessels to sail.

To replace the lost capacity after a series of ship sales in the previous years, ATSC had been chartering cargo vessels support its operations. In 2008, it had chartered MV Myriad for a rate of $7 per day, initially for three months, which was extended until the arrival of the new fleet members.

At the moment, ATSC has five remaining vessels under the Superferry brand and another six for other brands such as CebuFerry, which already included the two new ships that were bought recently.

Hanjin to build world’s biggest container ship in Subic (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21923:hanjin-to-build-worlds-biggest-container-ship-in-subic&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—Following the completion here of APL Bahrain, a 259.8-meter-long container ship which is said to be the biggest vessel to be built in the country, shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. Philippines Inc. (HHICP) announced it will next build the biggest container ship in the world.

Hanjin officials announced the firm’s next big project during the visit of President Arroyo at the Hanjin shipyard last week.

“We will [soon start] fabricating the biggest container ship in the world,” said Jeong Sup Shim, whom Mrs. Arroyo acknowledged as the founding president of HHIC Philippines.

The ship will be finished by late next year or early 2012, Shim said during an impromptu press briefing upon Mrs. Arroyo’s arrival at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic’s Redondo peninsula.

Hanjin officials announced earlier that the company—now the fourth-biggest shipbuilder in the world—will soon start the construction of ultralarge oil tankers and Capesize-type bulk carriers.

Recently, the firm signed a contract with Taiwanese shipping firm Hsin Chien Marine Co. Ltd. for two 180,000-ton Capesize bulk-carrier vessels, Hanjin’s first orders here in the ultralarge-vessel market.

Hanjin will deliver the first Capesize vessel by September next year.

In January the Korean shipbuilder also delivered to the Kaptanoglu Shipping Lines, a Turkish company, the 114,000-deadweight-ton MT Leyla K, the first oil tanker to be built in this free port.

Hanjin officials said the completion last year of the company’s facilities-expansion program at its $1.7-billion Subic shipyard would allow it to build Capesize vessels and catch up with Korean rivals like Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

According to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which signed in Hanjin as a Subic-registered investor in 2005, the Korean shipbuilder has lined up for fabrication here some 36 vessels, with delivery schedules before the end of 2012.

After constructing its shipyard at the Redondo peninsula in 2006 and 2007, the firm delivered in 2008 the first Subic-made container ship, MV Argolikos, which was delivered to the Greek shipping company Dioryx.

By the end of 2009, Hanjin already finished constructing eight container ships here.

With these projects, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Feliciano Salonga said Hanjin has put the Subic Bay Free Port on the maritime map.

The summer is near and the company known as Superferry has 2 new ships to bring you any part of visayas and mindanao

^^ They will be renamed as SuperFerry 20 & 21.
They will soon come in the country this March.

^^Yup, really excited to see them on our shores! :banana::banana::banana:

Yesterday while on Manila Bay I saw the Manila Hotel's ship fired up, backed out into the bay, turned around and backed into the dock.

Have never seen her faced that way before.

Brad

ABOITIZ TRANSPORT BUYS TWO VESSELS TO HIKE FLEET CAPACITY.


MONTHS after the sinking of one of its vessels, Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC) on Tuesday said it purchased two vessels in a move to increase the capacity of its SuperFerry fleet and to boost the growth of its logistics arm.

Aboitiz said in a disclosure that it had purchased two roll-on/roll-off-passenger vessels, currently named MV Sunflower Kogane from the Diamond Ferry Co. Ltd and MV Sunflower Nishiki from Kansai Kisen Kaisha. Both are Japanese firms based in Oita and in Osaka, respectively.

ATSC said it bought the vessels at $7.5 million each. It has a total capacity of loading 400 twenty-foot equivalent units and can carry 2,000 passengers each.

“Aiming towards operational excellence, the vessel purchase is intended to modernize its current fleet to achieve greater efficiencies.

These vessels are also expected to provide additional options for SuperFerry passengers who will be traveling this coming summer season and better support the growing value-added business of 2GO,” Aboitiz said in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The two vessels, weighing about 9,700 gross tons each, will arrive in the country next month.

The vessels will replace MV Superferry9, which sunk off Zamboanga Peninsula in September last year. The new members of the Aboitiz fleet will also serve routes of vessels that have been previously sold. ATSC made the decision to put several ships on the auction bloc to arrest the slide of revenues and pay off maturing debts.

During the third quarter of 2009, ATSC’s revenues fell by P1 billion to P2.44 billion compared with the previous year on higher fuel prices.

For the first three quarters of 2009, ATS registered a net income of P428.8 from the previous year’s net loss of P49.4 million.

Most of ATSC’s ships were grounded early September last year following the sinking of MV SuperFerry9, but the company was able to convince the government that the rest of its vessels are all safe. The Maritime Industry Authority eventually allowed its vessels to sail.

To replace the lost capacity after a series of ship sales in the previous years, ATSC had been chartering cargo vessels support its operations. In 2008, it had chartered MV Myriad for a rate of $7 per day, initially for three months, which was extended until the arrival of the new fleet members.

At the moment, ATSC has five remaining vessels under the Superferry brand and another six for other brands such as CebuFerry, which already included the two new ships that were bought recently.

Pls note that I have posted some photos of Pasig River and Pasig River Ferry in the below Thread :


Asian Forums > Philippine Forums > Around the Philippines > Cities, Places, Travel and Geography > Metro Manila

Pasig River Thread 3

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=752686&page=42

^^May sked at rates ka ba ng Pasig ferry?

^^May sked at rates ka ba ng Pasig ferry?


Rates - Ferry boat fare - 60 pesos from Plaza Mexico Ferry station to Nagpayong satellite Ferry station. and 30 pesos from Nagpayong to Guadalupe (return trip)


http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/crisostomosantos33/3874544141_8dd8efff22.jpg

Owing to Dredging operations in Pasig River, the Ferry schedule is 1 hour late.

For the Ferry Schedule from Intramuros to Napindan Channel (Nagpayong) you may use the above schedule as a guide since the Ferry stop-over in each stations is about 5 minutes only.


http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/crisostomosantos33/ferrystations.jpg


http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz203/crisostomosantos33/Ferry-Stations_Original.jpg



You will find it's a nice and exciting experience riding the Ferry from Intramuros to Napindan. You can take photos all the way, Except from Ayala Bridge till after passing the Phil Coast Guard Station at Pureza, Sta Mesa.

Got words from my contact in ATS that a team will be leaving between Feb 24-26 to fetch soon-SF20... another team will follow shortly to get soon-SF21... can't wait to see them! i hope we can be included in the vessel familiarization tour that they usually give to shippers...

"K"

Visayas shipowners' Mar 1 strike won't cripple trade

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is confident a planned strike by Cebu-based shipping operators will not result in a trade bottleneck, claiming bigger operators will skip the protest.

The 32-member firm Visayan Association of Ferryboats and Coastwise Service Operators (VAFCSO) is threatening to go on strike on March 1 to protest "impractical Marina circulars on safety".

VAFCSO members operate at least 200 vessels deployed mostly in the Visayas. They account for more than half of the region's passage and cargo traffic. Members include Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Roble Shipping Inc.

Among policies VAFCSO is opposing are the mandatory requirement for Protection and Indemnity (P&I) life insurance coverage scheduled to take effect on February 20, and the life-saving appliance guideline which specifies the number of life jackets that should be on board a vessel, claiming this to be too expensive.

In a press briefing on Monday, Marina administrator Ma. Elena Bautista said, "We are upgrading the standards for safety; they (shipowners) must get a third party or join a P&I club so that when something happens to their vessels, the P&I Club will shoulder the expenses."

The protest of VAFCSO members, she said, "only shows they don't like higher safety standards and are only concerned with profits instead of the safety of their passengers. If they disrupt public service, we will cancel their CPC (Certificate of Public Convenience), and this move was approved by the Marina Board."

She added, "Big shipping companies such as Aboitiz Transport Shipping, Negros Navigation, Gothong Lines and Sulpicio Lines, which are not members of VAFCSO, will take up the slack."

She said government has also prepared "Oplan Dolphin," which places on standby the Philippine Coast Guard, Department of National Defense and Marina for needs of passengers and cargo shippers.

Calling for a replacement

Since Bautista's appointment as Marina chief in September 2008, VAFCSO has been calling for her replacement by either Philippine Ports Authority general manager and former Marina administrator Atty. Oscar Sevilla; PPA assistant general manager and former Marina deputy administrator for planning Atty Gloria Bañas; former Navy Rear Admiral Pio Garrido; or National Development Co-Maritime Leasing Corp president Agustin Bengzon, also a former Marina administrator.

VAFCSO board member Jose Emery Roble, president and chief executive officer of Roble Shipping Inc, claimed Bautista's resignation is not only the call of their organization but also other maritime organizations from other parts of the country.

Roble earlier said the planned March 1 "maritime holiday" is a strong signal against Bautista's unreasonable policies.

From: Portcalls, February 17, 2010

"K"

Asian Terminals buying cranes

LISTED PORT operator Asian Terminals, Inc. is adding container handling equipment at the Manila South Harbor in anticipation of higher volumes.

In a statement, Asian Terminals said it would invest on two ship-to-share cranes “as part of [a] long-term development program for South Harbor.”

“We are investing now in preparation for greater volumes and even better services in the future,” said Asian Terminals executive vice-president Ernst Schulze in the statement.

The new cranes will arrive by early 2011, the firm said.

Asian Terminals added it would also improve business processes through information technology. “Automation projects designed to fast-track cargo processing are in full gear at South Harbor. Since 2008, automated exit gates have provided port users easier and more secure access [to] the port,” the company said.

Asian Terminals reported revenues of P828.8 million in the nine-month period from January to September in 2009, an increase of 35.6% from P611.3 million in the same period in 2008. Revenues from ports operations stood at P2.92 billion, up by 0.7% from P2.9 billion in the same period in 2008.

The firm holds the concession to run the container and passenger terminals of South Harbor until 2038. The original concession was until 2013 but the contract was extended in 2007. It is also the operator of the passenger terminal of the Batangas port and the Makar Wharf in General Santos, an inland clearance depot in Calamba, Laguna, and the Mariveles Grain Terminal in Bataan.

It recently won the right to manage the container port of the second phase of the Batangas terminal.

"K"

Osmeña to raise shipowners' concerns to GMA
(The Freeman) Updated February 24, 2010 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña will bring up to Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo the sentiments of shipowners in Cebu over the alleged unreasonable maritime policies being implemented by Maritine Industry Authority Administrator Elena Bautista.

Arroyo is attending the celebration of the city’s charter anniversary today.

Osmeña said the shipowners visited him yesterday to seek for his help and the fastest action he can take is to bring the matter up to the president.

“They came here kay nagkaproblema sila sa administrator sa Marina. Galisod kuno sila tungod aning mga retroactive na mga requirements like technical requirements sa life vest and daghan pang similar to that. They said the new policies are unreasonable, very expensive to comply with,” Osmeña said.

He said the city will study the concerns raised by the shipowners and see what it can do to help them.

The mayor said he does not want to judge Bautista, but since her leadership is being questioned by many of shipowners, he tends to believe something is not right.

“If you cannot provide leadership, if you cannot even convince shipping operators, then that means something is wrong,” Osmeña said, adding, that is not worried a planned strike will hurt the city’s economy.

“I told them, if they want to go on strike, no problem with me. I’ll even thank them for announcing it ahead of time. Kung usa ka adlaw ra, di man na problema ba,” Osmeña said.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Jack Jakosalem, chairman of the City Council Committee on Transportation and Communications, said he already asked the shipowners to submit a position paper that the Councilors can study to make an official stand on the issues in question.

The shipowners have complained of the requirements of Marina on the life vests; survival insurance of P50,000 per survivor incase of marine tragedy; death benefits to families plus the environmental impact insurance in case there are oil spills and other incidents that would impact the environment. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)

"K"

DBP ready to finance more vessels to boost Ro-Ro program
By EMMIE V. ABADILLA
February 22, 2010, 5:13pm

After connecting major islands in the Philippine archipelago via 20 Roll-On Roll-Off (RO-RO) missionary routes in the span of a decade and funding the acquisition of 28 vessels, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) aims to add 20 brand-new and 26 second-hand vessels to its fleet in the next 4 years.The state-owned bank financed the vessels as well as the upgrading of 12 ports under its Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP), which falls directly under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) initiative.

Last year, the biggest chunk of DBP’s P167.01-billion total loan portfolio was appropriated to the SLDP, which funded P13.42-billion projects linking up the country’s over 7,000 islands via sea lanes as the major arteries of trade, bringing down the cost of goods through a modern storage, handling and transport system, according to President and CEO Reynaldo G. David.

“In 2008, DBP acquired the National Maritime Leasing Corporation (renamed as DBP Leasing Corporation or DBLPC) to immediately provide long-term financing to fast-track the Road Ro-Ro Terminal System (RRTS), a key component of the SLDP,” he noted.

DMLC is the only government financial institution solely dedicated to the maritime industry. It offers a lease program as an alternative financing scheme to acquire RO-RO vessels. Significantly, shippers who want to operate RO-ROs prefer to lease the vessels because the arrangement requires no major capital investment and offers real cash flow advantages.

So far, DBP identified 49 routes under the RRTS. However, DMLC focused on developing the 34 missionary routes where there are no RORO services, no regular shipping services or no services whatsoever.

Today, DBPLC owns 7 RO-RO vessels managed by different operators to service Luzon and the Visayas, with 2 more coming this year. These include the M/V Maria Natasha, M/V Maria Lolita and M/V Maria Oliva, which Montenegro Shipping Lines operate in the Roxas, Oriental Mindoro- Caticlan route.

DMLC is also leasing M/V MS Romblon, which Romblon Tablas Sibuyan Lines operate in the Batangas, Romblon, Sibuyan Island and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro route. M/V Lolo Uweng of Landayan, which is operated by Boac Ferries Inc., serves San Juan, Batangas and Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

A couple of other ships, which Star Horse Shipping Lines operate, ply the Southern Luzon route, serving Quezon, Batangas and Marinduque. “With the RO-RO, the fare is less than the usual fare of fast crafts and other seaferries in the area. Of course, it is also much cheaper than airplane fares,” commented Mogpog, Marinduque Mayor Senen M. Livero Jr.

All RO-RO vessels are currently under lease. “This move allowed us to develop 20 missionary routes,” according to David. In the next decade, DMLC is plans to expand its fleet by 46 more vessels. In addition, the company is coordinating its missionary route development initiatives with the Philippine Ports Authority.

Furthermore, DMLC has identified 13 priority missionary routes in Luzon and Visayas as viable enough for leasing RORO vessels to interested shipping operators. Bicol region has 3 missionary routes which traverse Pilar, Sorsogon to Aroroy, Masbate; Pasacao, Camarines Sur to San Pascual, Burias Island and Pio Duran, Albay to Claveria, Burias Island.

To ensure the shipping operators’ competitiveness, DMLC plans to adjust their monthly operating lease payments in accordance with prevailing market conditions. The company also provides route assessment and advisory services as well as technical assistance.

On top of acquiring and leasing RORO vessels, DMLC is assisting communities along the missionary routes they are developing, setting up credit cooperatives to improve people’s access to micro-finance as well as supporting skills development among farmers and fishermen.

Finally, in collaboration with the Philippine Navy, DBPLC is looking to joint-venture, develop, and upgrade the Philippine Navy’s San Felipe shipyard in Cavite. The goal is to modernize the domestic shipping sector, at the same time, ensure that all RORO vessels are properly classed, safe, and seaworthy, the DBP CEO elaborated.

"K"

lets have some pictures here... sharing with you my collection taken last dec 2009/jan 2010 in cebu -- "K"

trans-asia 3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4269876987_c045542923_m.jpg

trans-asia 3 & trans-asia malaysia
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4269876561_e6fe92a6b6_m.jpg

final voyage for Cotabota Princess... may she rest in pieces... -- "K"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4251524238_d09baf5420_m.jpg

supercats... 30, 32 & 36 -- "K"

supercat 30 - backview
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4250674499_11c4b77fba_m.jpg

supercat 32
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4222738183_35b68d5925_m.jpg

supercat 36
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/4251449532_5cd59dc66d_m.jpg

Princess wreck yields 5 more remains
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated February 25, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Five more bodies were discovered in the wreck of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars 20 months after the biggest inter-island vessel sank off Romblon, with at least 548 people confirmed dead, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

The PCG got information from Vener Balsamo, project engineer of the salvage operations of the ship’s new owner, Royal Jessan Petromin Resources Inc., that the skeletal remains were recently found in the economy section of the vessel’s main deck, specifically section deck C, starboard (right) side of the 23,000-gross-ton Princess of the Stars.

Only one of the remains yielded documents that could help in the identification.

“To the best of their capability, the salvors segregated the bones and placed them in separate cadaver bags. The cadavers are presently on board the salvor’s barge. We do not know yet their identities,” a PCG official said.

Princess of the Stars, owned and operated by Sulpicio Lines Inc., sank at least a nautical mile away from Sibuyan Island in Romblon on June 21, 2008 at the height of typhoon “Frank.”

The shipwreck was sold to Royal Jessan in late 2009, which has torn 32 percent of the vessel apart for scrap metal.

---------------------------

this is where P&I is critical... if SLI have one, the retrieval should be more faster because the P&I will pay for the operations & the gov't don't have to wait for whatever amount the shipping company can spare.


"K"

DOTC: A dialogue with PGMA saved the maritime industry (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=6&rid=261030)
By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, Feb.25 (PNA) -- Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza hailed on Thursday the successful dialogue with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the maritime stakeholders which resulted in calling off the impending maritime strike or holiday on March 1.

In a media statement, Mendoza said the dialogue led to the formulation of plans, programs, policies and measures that will redound to the benefit and development of the maritime industry, particularly in security, safety of travellers and their properties.

The meeting was held on board a Supercal from Cebu going to Tagbilaran City, Bohol on February 24.

During the meeting, Secretary Mendoza said the stakeholders in the maritime industry agreed to call off the planned protest actions to raise issues affecting the domestic shipping industry and opted for a continuing dialogue with the concerned government agencies.

He assured President Arroyo of the stakeholders' support of her developmental programs, in particular the roll-on/roll-off transport system commonly known as the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Mendoza said the maritime stakeholders also agreed to the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will address the issues and concerns pertaining to the development of the shipping industry.

He also praised the shipping industry officials for their open-mindedness and willingness to dialogue as an initial step to come up with a win-win solution.

Mendoza assured the public that the government, particularly the DOTC, espouses "the principles of consultation through dialogue." (PNA)
scs/LOR

more pix:

super shuttle ferry 5
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4387595646_eed37105f7_m.jpg

ormoc star
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4387519388_a0872c485a_m.jpg

wonderful star
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4251562128_67c39a96f8_m.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4222723803_4dc49a27e7_m.jpg


"K"

sulpicio's:

princess of the universe
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4237008244_29f372691e_m.jpg

filipina princess
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4250750379_f9e7bceb50_m.jpg

cotabato princess - up close
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4387519442_807bfcbc3e_m.jpg

id please?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4387595580_37db2e8367_m.jpg

"K"

carlos gothong lines:

cagayan bay 1 in nasipit
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4222747045_8578312d6f_m.jpg

three-some in cebu
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4250701807_23db3d07b0_m.jpg

three-some in cebu - another angle
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4386758441_7188dcbfcc_m.jpg

"K"

id please?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4387595580_37db2e8367_m.jpg

"K"


Ocean?

NMC Container Lines’ vessel makes maiden call at Batangas Port (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/245504/nmc-container-lines-vessel-makes-maiden-call-batangas-port)
February 28, 2010, 1:47pm

http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/Untitled-1_180.jpg

Driven by its aspiration to provide safe and cost-effective ways of carrying the cargoes of its customers as well as seeing opportunities in the most progressive region in the country today, NMC Container Lines, Inc. (NMCCLI) decided to use Batangas Port as a strategic gateway.

NMCCLI’s vessel Gen. Malvar made her maiden call at Batangas Port recently, carrying substantial volume bound for Cebu and Cagayan De Oro (CDO). Expectedly, the volume of in-bound cargoes from CDO to Batangas was also encouraging.

Given the significant growth of the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region in economic terms, and Batangas Port’s modern equipment and state-of-the-art facilities, NMCCLI has replaced Manila with a Batangas call in its regular route of Manila-Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Manila.

“The best way for us to target the CALABARZON market and help our customers based in the region to bring their goods to Visayas and Mindanao is to utilize ATI Batangas Port as a strategic gateway,” Mr. Jay Olivarez, the General Manager of NMCCLI emphasized. “In addition, our CALABARZON customers get to reduce their costs in trucking and logistics when they bring their cargo for carriage to Batangas Port compared to bringing it all the way to North Harbor in Manila,” Olivarez added.

NMC Container Lines, Inc., a liner shipping company, is a member of the Magsaysay Transport & Logistics Group. Aside from Batangas, its service routes are strategically mapped in five of the country’s major economic ports – Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos. NMCCLI’s areas of operations are all ISO9001:2000 certified.

Navy, shipping firm ink MOA for cheap boat rides (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=261824)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Philippine Navy and the Aboitiz Transport System and Corporation (ATSC) have forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) affording a discounted fare to sailors and marines and others, a Navy official said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Philippine Navy spokesman, said the MOA was signed Tuesday by vice-admiral Ferdinand Golez, the Navy's flag officer-in-command and ATSC executive vice-president and chief executive officer Evelyn Engel.

The agreement of affording discounted fare also include the sailors and marines' dependents, civilian employees and retired members of the Navy and all their qualified dependents aside from sailors and marines who are still in the active service, he said.

“Through the said agreement, ATSC agrees to extend a special discount rate to non-uniformed personnel, civilian employees, and retired members of the Navy and all their qualified dependents,” Arevalo said.

“The ATSC has provided prevailing rates to all routes that it has identified. The MOA is valid for a period of one year,” he added.

Arevalo said the ATSC, through its corporate offices and branches nationwide, shall extend guaranteed lowest fare on all Superferry trips provided that the Navy and its members shall meet and comply with all the requirements and follow the procedure set forth.

He said the ATSC may also request for additional identification cards aside from the military ID.

“This initiative is among the many projects of the Command that seeks to provide for the basic needs of the Sailors and Marines,” he noted. (PNA)

Fleet Review

LORENZO (freighter service)
Lorcon Cagayan de Oro
Lorcon Davao
Lorcon Zamboanga
Lorcon Visayas
Lorcon Cebu
Lorcon Luzon
Lorcon Mindanao - SOLD
Lorcon Manila

NATIONAL MARINE (freighter service)
Gen Ricarte
Gen General Malvar
Gen General Del Pilar
Gen Geronimo
Grandeur
Gen Romulo

SOLID (freighter service)
Gold
Pearl
Bay
Sky
Star
Jade
Sun
Ace
Link

OCEANIC (freighter service)
Ocean Trust
Ocean Quest
Ocean Hope
Ocean Papa - sunk during typhoon frank (2008)
Ocean Prosperity
Ocean Dignity
Ocean Serenity
Ocean Integrity
Ocean Faith

MCCP (freighter service)

MV Sinag
MV Sandiwa
MV Sulo

OCEAN TRANSPORT (freighter service)

Rennell
Robinson
Sarah
Victoria
Edison
Roy's
Aquario

"K"

nabenta na rin ba ang M/V Princess of the World ng sulpicio? -- "K"

found this while surfing the coastguard's website... worth reading coz this brings significant impact to the maritime industry -- "K"

THE Philippine Coast Guard LAW OF 2009
February 17, 2010
source --> http://www.coastguard.gov.ph/News-Feb-10.htm#11

On 17 October 1901, Philippine Commission Act 266 created the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation (BCGT) under the Department of Commerce and Police which was brought about by the need to address issues of national interests such as the delays in the mail delivery due to lack of transportation facilities, construction and operation of the agency’s vessel, construction, operation and maintenance of lighthouses and the prevention of smuggling.

With barely two years in existence, the BCGT established 48 lighthouses, five unlighted beacons, range marks and 26 buoys. The BCGT also developed its capabilities by acquiring 15 Coast Guard cutters, 2 light tenders, 3 sea-going launches and 5 bay and river launches.
On 29 May 1903, the collector of Customs commissioned the master and watch officers of BCGT vessels to conduct searches and seizures in the same manner as duly designated customs officer.

On 23 March 1905, the BCGT was provided with the Superintendent of Inter Island Transportation who was responsible for checking that a steamer vessel construction is in accordance with the required specifications to provide service to the government and public.
By August 1905, BCGT vessels’ use were mostly for peace and other missions such as assisting the constabulary against the Pulajanes of Samar and guerillas.

On 9 December 1913, Commission Act 2308 abolished the Bureau and the country went without a Coast Guard until 1967.

On August 8 1967, President Marcos signed Republic Act 5173 known as the “Coast Guard Law of 1967”. The Act defines the three -fold objectives of the Coast Guard: the promotion of safety of life at sea, the enforcement of maritime laws and regulations, and the development of aids to marine navigation and rescue facilities. On 10 October 1967, pursuant to RA 5173, the Philippine Coast Guard was finally activated. The PCG was initially placed under the Philippine Navy with the intent of separating at a later date.

PD 600 amended RA 5173 and PD 602 established the National Operations Center for Oil Pollution. In 1986 Executive Orders 125 and 125-A transferred to MARINA some regulatory functions of the PCG. However MARINA did not immediately take over the functions in view of its limited personnel and material assets. It took seven more years before MARINA fully assumed the functions mandated by EO 125 and125-A.

Even while the PCG remained with the Philippine Navy thirty (30) years after the enactment of RA 5173 contrary to the intent of the lawmakers to have it separated as soon as organized, it continued to perform functions affecting the civilian populace particularly the riding public. While its organization’s military capability in terms of organization and vigilant monitoring on 24/7 basis in most parts of the archipelago proved advantageous to these functions, its military character has prevented the PCG from developing into a full-blown maritime safety agency. More specifically, grants and aids from more developed countries like Japan prevented the PCG from enhancing its equipage mainly because of the “defense” connotation while under the umbrella of the Department of National Defense.

As early as 1991, a Resolution of the Shipping and Ports Advisory Council (SPAC) called for the transfer of the PCG from the Philippine Navy to a more appropriate location in the bureaucracy that could enable the PCG to perform numerous functions whether mandated by law or deputized by another agency which are not military in nature.

The de facto character of the current PCG is that it performs law enforcement based on civilian regulations utilizing personnel that are organized and managed in the military manner.

This situation as defined by Senator Biazon as a “confused state” is in fact the very solution to the ailing maritime safety issue which requires the need for a round-the-clock and multi-mission sea-going government agency with an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of commercial shipping that can regulate erring seamen and identify vessel safety violations.

MARINA took over the vessel regulatory function on 22 November 1994 with a memorandum of understanding as an implementing instrument.
President Fidel V. Ramos on 30 March 1998 invoked the presidential authority to reorganize government agencies and transferred the PCG from DND to the Office of the President by virtue of EO 475.

On 15 April 1999, the PCG was transferred from the Office of the President to Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) by virtue of EO 477.

PCG underwent a lot of improvements in terms of organization, equipment, personnel and training. Relocated outside the Defense department, the PCG received numerous grants, donations and soft loans that resulted to vessel acquisitions and eventually upgraded its capabilities.

On May 3, 2004, RA 9295 or the Domestic Shipping Act provided for the legal transfer of vessel regulatory functions to MARINA.

With the bulk of the regulatory functions transferred to MARINA, the PCG meanwhile developed its capabilities to address the equally pressing problems on maritime security law enforcement, and environmental protection. The PCG also was faced with addressing traditional challenges such as the 22 typhoons that visit the country on the average annually and the non-traditional challenges such as piracy, terrorism, human trafficking, money-laundering and drug-smuggling.

The most recent typhoons that brought widespread devastation in the country due to floods provided the PCG with the opportunity to show its relevance to support national welfare particularly in times of disasters and extreme conditions.

With Republic Act No. 9993 signed by the President on February 12, 2010, the PCG has finally legitimized its presence as a bureau, through a legal instrument, under program and policy coordination with the DOTC as an attached agency . This provides the PCG with a higher degree of autonomy with which to manage its personnel, resources and activities.

More importantly, RA 9993 finally puts to rest the issue on authority, responsibility, capability and accountability on specific issues on vessel safety which has cast doubts and even fear among the users of maritime transport due to recent tragic accidents. The PCG can now unilaterally, with the effect of the law, assert and exercise what it has been doing historically in the past to promote and ensure safety of life and property at sea and once again regain the confidence of the riding public.

The President’s immediate signing of the law manifests the renewed trust and confidence bestowed upon the PCG that is guided by professionalism, preparedness, presence and partnership.

Under the new law, the PCG seeks to implement the following renewed powers and functions:

A. The PCG is empowered to enforce regulations on Philippine-registered vessels engaged in the domestic trade to ensure compliance to safety standards in accordance with national laws as prescribed by MARINA policies within the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.

B. The PCG is empowered to enforce regulations on Philippine-registered vessels engaged in the international trade in accordance with all relevant maritime international conventions including but not limited to SOLAS and MARPOL while within the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.

C. The PCG continues to inspect foreign-registered vessels calling on any port of the Philippines for control verification and to ensure compliance to all safety and environmental standards set forth by international conventions through Port State Control under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Memorandum Of Understanding on Port State Control

D. The PCG is mandated to enforce safety standards, rules and regulations through the conduct of routine, periodic and random inspections on vessels anytime from the time the keel is laid for newly-constructed vessels up to the time the vessel is put into operation.

E. The PCG is mandated to enforce safety standards, rules and regulations through the conduct of routine, periodic and random inspections upon delivery of imported vessels whether new or used up to the time the vessel is put into operation.

F. The PCG is mandated to enforce safety standards, rules and regulations through the conduct of inspections of vessels altered from its original design.

G. The PCG is mandated to prevent a vessel which does not comply with safety standards from leaving port.

H. The PCG is mandated to stop a vessel from pursuing its voyage if found through inspection that it does not comply with safety standards.

I. The PCG is empowered to detain a vessel continuously until such time that it complies with the safety standards and that detainable deficiencies are rectified.

J. The PCG is required to set emergency readiness standards and conduct routine, periodic and random physical evaluation of all shipboard evolutions both underway and while in port.

K. The PCG is mandated to formulate, promulgate upon approval of SOTC, and enforce rules, regulations, SOP’s , memorandum circulars and other tertiary legislation to promote safety of lives and properties at sea on all maritime-related activities including boat races, regattas, life guarding, scuba diving, jet ski operations and other sea- borne recreational activities.

L. The PCG is required to coordinate with PPA Manila, PHIVIDEC in Cagayan de Oro and Batangas Port for the joint operations of Vessel Traffic Management Systems (VTMS) in respective areas including the establishment of traffic separation schemes, buoyage systems and two-way communications system accessible by all vessels.

M. The PCG is empowered to coordinate with PPA the establishment and joint operation of VTMS on the other major ports of the country or anywhere else where restricted passage of vessels are observed.

N. The PCG is required to maintain as far as practicable the continuous and uninterrupted operation of PCG aids to navigation and to coordinate with private entities the proper operation of private aids to navigation.

O. The PCG is mandated to coordinate with shipping companies for effective two-way maritime communications systems between vessels and PCG installations capable and suitable for use during the normal shipping operations and during emergencies.

P. The PCG is required to develop, establish, maintain and operate 24/7 rescue facilities on all PCG districts, stations, and detachments capable to respond to distress calls within the maritime jurisdiction of the country and on limited capacity to deploy rescue assets beyond territorial limits.

Q. The PCG is mandated to coordinate for joint use of facilities with the AFP, PNP, LGU’s and other entities including coordinating systems and procedures in the conduct of search and rescue and subsequent attendant activities to rescued persons.

R. The PCG is mandated to establish sea lanes to aid international vessels in traversing Philippine archipelagic waters under the doctrine of innocent passage.

S. The PCG is mandated to remove, destroy or tow to port sunken vessels or floating hazards to navigation.

T. To remove or destroy illegal fish traps along sea lanes.

U. To remove, destroy or tow to port vessels that pose as hazards to navigation.

V. To issue permits for salvage of vessels only to accredited salvors.

W. To supervise marine salvage operations through accredited salvors.

X. To provide guidelines on the proper conduct of salvage operations, the required equipment and requirements prior accreditation.

Y. To search for vessels and persons in distress and subsequently render necessary and appropriate aid.

Z. To minimize response time.

AA. To develop a system whereby the services of the AFP, PNP and other government units may assist the PCG during search and rescue incidents.

BB. To conduct immediately maritime casualty investigation on all maritime accidents involving death, casualties and damage to properties to determine proximate causes so that the same thing will not happen again in the future.

CC. BMI to inquire into all maritime accidents to establish probable cause and liabilities to parties, if any.

DD. To assist and coordinate with other government agencies to enforce and maintain security within the maritime jurisdiction.

EE. To assist and coordinate with other government agencies and/or entities to prevent and suppress terrorism at sea.

FF. To assist and coordinate with other government agencies in the performance of its law enforcement functions.

GG. To assist BFAR in the enforcement of fishery laws particularly on poaching and fishing with the use of dynamite and cyanide.

HH. To jointly operate BFAR MCS vessels.

II. To assist the BID monitoring and apprehending illegal entrants along the coastal waters particularly vicinity of Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia borders.

JJ. To assist the BUCUS in gathering information, prevention and apprehension of any form of smuggling through the coastal waters.

KK. To assist the DENR in the apprehension of illegal transport of illegally-cut forest products.

LL. To assist the PNP in preventing the movement of illegal firearms and the unescorted transport of explosives.

MM. To assist the PDEA in monitoring and apprehending drug dealers and discover drug laboratories.

NN. To assist the PNP to pursue and curtail transnational crimes.

OO. To board and inspect all merchant ships and watercrafts in the performance of all PCG primary and deputized functions.

PP. To promulgate and subsequently enforce rules and regulations to protect the marine environment and resources from all off shore sources of pollution.

QQ. To develop oil spill response, containment and recovery capabilities against ship-based pollution.

RR. To accommodate requests for assistance of other government agencies in the performance of their functions.

SS. To organize, train and supervise the PCG Auxiliary for the purpose of assisting the PCG in carrying out its mandated functions.

This very recent development puts forth into proper perspective the role of the PCG as a law enforcement agency that can address pressing concerns affecting the country’s national humanitarian interests. Non-traditional challenges affecting the general welfare of the people such as terrorism, drug-trafficking, human smuggling, unauthorized use of firearms and explosives and other trans-national crimes will be acted upon or neutralized with more intensity and vigilance through cooperative undertakings or initiatives with lead agencies

This complements the increasing acceptability of the PCG as one of the numerous coast guard agencies capable of carrying out law enforcement and diplomatic means of resolving regional issues without resorting to hostilities between and among neighboring countries.

Internationally recognized as the Philippine government agency capable of representing the country in international fora to tackle sensitive issues on maritime security, piracy, terrorism and other transnational crimes, the PCG has become a model for comparison on best practices among ASEAN countries.

The newly enacted law has legally elevated the PCG to bureau level at par with the AFP and PNP. It now becomes clear and undisputed that the PCG is the third distinct, uniformed and armed service of the Philippines that the country can rely on in times of disasters and enforce laws with the firmness of a military organization but resilient or adaptive to pressures or contemporaneous developments in the country’s vast maritime area surrounding the civilian environment where the PCG operates.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4397338268_85ea344772.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4397339712_5a94851546.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4396573321_4cd40e8657.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4397342008_34c1eabfde.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4396575973_2d5826f2d1.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4397344592_b468e76a6d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4396580395_7222c3e7f1.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4396585667_ae2d71504c.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4397353942_c770fcfd13.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4396590507_6721789ef8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4397360164_8f40bde541.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4397337222_4a073cb119.jpg

nice shots happs... -- "K"

BREAKING NEWS - sulpicio lines is changing its name to PHILIPPINE SPAN ASIA CARRIER CORP... said moved was approved by SEC already and was out in Cebu-based news papers.

will scan the article & post it here.

"K"

^^BAt kaya sila nag palit ng pangalan? Sayang naman.. Kilalang kilala na sila sa Sulpicio Lines.

Negros Navigation launches freight service (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=262009)

MANILA, March 3 (PNA)-- Negros Navigation (NN), one of the country's shipping lines, announced that it has unveiled what it promises to be a smart choice for cargo shipping: NN Freight.

NN Freight aims to provide faster and more efficient transport of cargo to practically any destination in the country.

With nationwide coverage, NN Freight offers door-to-door, pier-to-pier, door-to-pier, and pier-to-door delivery for the convenience of its many customers.

NN chairman Sulficio Tagud Jr. believes that cargo service should begin right at the doorstep of every customer and ends not only at the piers but right where the recipients are and where the goods are needed.

"NN Freight will go wherever its customers want it to go. We will get their goods wherever they may be: in their homes, offices, warehouses, production centers, and factories, and deliver them exactly where they want them received," according to the company's top visionary, who has steered NN from a near basket case to one of the strongest ocean liners in the country today.

Successful and on-time delivery of cargo is ensured by NN's regular shipping schedules on regular routes throughout the year.

"NN's regular schedules will provide logistics and supplies managers a distinct advantage in planning and formulating efficient and cost-effective distribution strategies for their companies," according to Tagud.

NN also recently upgraded their existing fleet and added more new vessels to expand cargo capacity and to ensure the safety and security of its delivery.

It has been a trusted leader in transporting passengers and cargo for more than 77 years, making it one of the most experienced shipping companies in the country.(PNA)

MARINA to streamline ship classification procedures (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=262008)

MANILA, March 3 (PNA) -- The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Wednesday said it is overhauling ship classification regulations to promote safety among Philippine-flag vessels.

MARINA administrator Maria Elena M. Bautista said this move aims to eliminate fly-by-night classification societies.

She also said that the proposed regulation will categorize classification functions and require accreditation before a society can classify Philippine-flag vessels.

Bautista said the agency is looking at outsourcing the classification to just three groups — a single-class society or an organization composed of a pool of accredited societies, the Philippine government (PG) class society, and the International Association of Class Societies (IACS).

“We are looking at pegging the revenue share of the societies to 70/30 as we believe that class societies should not be profit-oriented,” Bautista said.

IACS member American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has, however, expressed opposition to the revenue-sharing scheme, arguing such is not an international practice.

Earlier, ABS submitted a position paper to the MARINA echoing this opposition.

Based on the draft circular, IACS will classify conventional vessels or vessels 500 gross tons (GT) and above as well as issue statutory certificates for the same.

The single-class society will classify vessels from 36 to 499 GT, and the PG vessels at 34 GT and below.

Except for IACS members, class societies will be required accreditation from MARINA. IACS members are already accredited by virtue of a memorandum of agreement entered into between MARINA and IACS in 2004. (PNA)

sucks, my scanner is not working... glad i have extra time to type the article... here we go.. -- "K"

SULPICIO SHIPPING FIRM CHANGES ITS NAME
by Aileen Garcia-Yap, Reporter, Cebu Daily News

Sulpicio Lines, Inc. will now be known as the Philippines Span Asia Carrier Corp. after its corporate name was changed last month.

The change was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to Harold Go, company vice president.

The name change was the management's way of starting anew the company, said Go in an interview yesterday.

The Cebu-based shipping line suffered a major loss with the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars during Typhoon Frank in June 21, 2008, leaving 800 dead or missing. The tragedy prodded the government to ground Sulpicio's entire fleet, later limiting the freeze order to passenger ships.

However, Go dismissed that idea that the change in company name was in anticipation of being allowed to set sail again after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, responding to a shippers' lobby, ordered the suspension of all circulars issued by the current Marina
Administrator Maria Elena Bautista.

"This has nothing to do with that. We already decided to change our name beofre the suspension of the circulars was implemented,' he said.

Only two fo the company's passenger vessels are allowed to sail so far along with its eight cargo vessels.

"Everything is the same except the names. Only two vessels are allowed to sail with one still being dry docked K and the grounding of the rest of the fleet has not been lifted yet despite the latest development," said Go.

He said that only MV Princess of the South and MV Princess of the Earth have clearance from Marina to date.

"Princess of the South has a capacity of 1,274 passengers while Princess of the Earth can accommoate 1,490 passengers but she is still on dry dock right now," Go said.

Go said the owners are just waiting for Marina's decision on their case on when the rest of the fleet would be allowed to resume full operations.

"We will just wait for them. We will not do anything or say anything that will preempt their decisions about our case."

Last Feb. 18, Five shipping organizations held a press conference in Manila to complain about Marina policies and threatened a work stoppage on March 1.

The maritime "holiday" was called off when the President responded by suspending the circulars in
questions.

The suspension include Circular 2009-18 that stipulates mandatory grounding of all ships in the fleet in the even of an accident.

Go said this was a "separate isse" from the company's case.

For now, the change in our company name is the latest developments for our company," he said.

^^BAt kaya sila nag palit ng pangalan? Sayang naman.. Kilalang kilala na sila sa Sulpicio Lines.

maybe because of the bad memories.... dona paz, dona marilyn, princess of the orient, princess of the stars... -- "K"

^^Why now? Ganda pa naman ng pangalan ng Sulpicio Lines. Di kaya na bili na yan ng foreign investor?

nabenta na rin ba ang M/V Princess of the World ng sulpicio? -- "K"

nasunog na yun diba, tapos na scrap na

;52830755']nasunog na yun diba, tapos na scrap na

ah okey... thaks waway for the confirmation - got a report kasi on fleet in the philippines at ang remarks sa world eh sold lang.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03042010/images/trav1.jpg

Cruise ship calls seen to spur RP tourism
from MALAYA

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects a hike in the country’s volume of tourists with the arrival of international cruise ships to the Philippines.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said that the cruise influx will boost local tourism and subsequently bring benefits to the local economy, such as tourism-led business ventures and employment.

"In addition to our chartered flights, the cruise ship tours would help drive tourism growth by providing a competitive opportunity for affluent travelers from the US, Europe and Asia to visit the country, see our attractions, and recognize our economic potentials," said Durano.

"Cruise companies venturing to the Philippines for the first time boost our country’s confidence of now being in the radar. This opens up more possibilities of other ships visiting our shores," he added.

Among the cruise companies expected to bring guests to the country is Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s number one cruise company. As much as 22,000 tourists are expected to visit the country until November this year as the cruise company expands its local cruise program and begins regular calls to Manila with its three ships, Costa Allegra, Costa Classica, and Costa Romantica, through its ground handler Travel People.

Costa Classica will call on the port of Manila a total of 11 times for the year, and it recently brought 1,300 guests to Manila when it docked at South Harbor for the first time.

Another cruise company, England’s Acromas Shipping Limited, also recently included the country in its Asian tour itinerary. Its vessel, MS Spirit of Adventure, through its ground handler Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc., recently brought over 300 British and French nationals to the country, in a 16-day tour of Asia. The country had the longest itinerary in the tour, as the ship docked in four different ports of call that included Cebu, Boracay, Manila, and La Union.

"The cruise industry’s growing recognition of the country’s numerous island experiences and shore excursions translates to a greater number of cruise ships and an even greater number of international tourists in the coming days," said Durano.

Over 700 passengers of various nationalities also joined the first Asian tour of MV Voyages of Discovery, also of Acromas Shipping Limited, and were engaged in the local trip itinerary that included, among others, tours in Old Manila, Pagsanjan Falls, Tagaytay and Corregidor Island.

Luxury passenger cruise ship MS Amadea will also be calling on the port of Manila this March, with 700 German passengers, as well as the Silversea Whisper, with 384 guests; and Regent Seven Seas Voyager, carrying more than 600 guests of various nationalities.

According to Tourism undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., "The Philippines could soon become the choice cruise destination in Asia among travelers, owing to our natural island attractions and the continued efforts in accommodating the local cruise expansion."

Verna Buensuceso, marketing head for DOT Team Europe said, "We always get positive feedback from the cruises which dock here; they remember the Philippines for our warm and reception and our unique culture."

Long-time cruise passengers also note that their experience was all the more made memorable because of the hospitable and excellent crew; majority of which are Filipinos.

At the recent port of call in Manila of MV Discovery, a UK-based ship carrying almost 600 passengers from different countries in Europe and Asia, 237 Filipinos (of the 300 crew members) are happily employed, from nurses and bar managers to performers, to technical staff.

Judi Helsby, a retired teacher from England who decided to go on a cruise vacation shared, "This cruise won’t be successful without the Filipinos. They all make us feel like family, and now we can’t wait to explore their home, the Philippines’ many islands."

Buensuceso said, "Excellent service rendered by the Filipino crew members truly make the experience more worthwhile for the guests. This in turn, gets the tourists curious about our country. We commend them for the quality of work that they put in, and regard them as partners in telling the world about our country."

On the subject of marketing the country to more cruises, Jarque said, "We continue our efforts to promote the country and become part of more cruise ships’ itineraries. In close coordination with our tourism offices abroad, travel activities through cruise lines keep us excited and remain among our areas of priority,"

He disclosed that the country will participate in upcoming key maritime events this year; namely the Seatrade Cruise Shipping in Miami, Florida, and the Tanker Industry Conference in Singapore – two of the definitive business exhibitions in the seafaring industry.

The DOT is also closely coordinating with travel groups and the private sector to work on projects that will complement these cruise tours such as the development of port infrastructure, support facilities and services, and potential shore excursions.

"K"

Cebuano to take helm at MARINA?
By Fred P. Languido (The Freeman) Updated March 05, 2010 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Is a Cebuano taking the helm at MARINA?

Cebu Ports Authority General Manager Angelo Verdan was reportedly appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority replacing Maria Elena Bautista, who will take her oath on Monday as the new chief of the Presidential Management Staff.

The president is expected to announce Verdan’s appointment today during her visit here.

A source from among the shipping operators in Cebu, who earlier lobbied for Bautista’s relief, said that Verdan will assume as the new MARINA administrator while Deputy General Manager Dennis Villamor will take his post in the CPA in an acting capacity.

Verdan refused to confirm the report saying he does not want to preempt the president.

He, however, said he was “strongly recommended” for the position by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Bautista said it is definite that someone will replace her in MARINA as she is mandated to vacate the position on Monday as soon as she take her oath as new PMS chief. She however said she does not know who her replacement is.

She said it could be that one of the deputy administrators will act as caretaker or somebody will be appointed by the president.

Bautista was appointed to a Cabinet portfolio following a Supreme Court ruling that requires all government appointed officials running for an elective position this coming election to resign.

She is replacing Hermogenes Esperon, who is a candidate for congressman in Pangasinan.

Bautista’s promotion to the Cabinet pleased the ship owners in the Visayas who were wishing for her ouster as MARINA administrator.

Members of the Philippine Shipping Association earlier complained against Bautista and sought for her relief because of her strict memorandum circulars which shipping operators described as unreasonable and untenable.

The Cebu-based Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators which is a member of the association was the most vocal against Bautista.

The shipowners and operators even threatened to hold a “shipping holiday” supposedly last March 1 to pressure the government to remove Bautista as Marina administrator.

The supposed strike however was called off following President Arroyo’s intercession.

Arroyo ordered the suspension of the implementation of the memorandum circulars.

Among the questioned circulars is Circular 2009-18, which provides for a mandatory suspension of the entire fleet of a shipping company in the event that one of its vessels meets an accident.

According to the group, this will result in millions of pesos in losses for a shipping company. —with Johanna Natavio/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)

Aboitiz ’09 profit grew by 559%

By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:08:00 03/03/2010


Close this MANILA, Philippines--Listed Aboitiz Transport System Corp. posted a six-fold increase in its profit in 2009, largely due to lower fuel costs which more than made up for the decline in demand and tricky overall operating conditions.

In a disclosure, ATS reported a net income of P546 million in 2009, up from only P83 million in the previous year.

This was achieved despite a P1-billion drop in consolidated revenue brought about by a decline in freight earnings. International ship chartering revenue likewise decreased by P1.3 billion due to a depressed market, the company said.

In September 2009, ATS said it also lost a ship, forcing the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to temporarily suspend the remainder of the company’s fleet.

“This greatly affected freight and passenger business. All vessels ultimately passed the Marina’s audit and inspection and were cleared for sailing shortly after the suspension,” the company said.

The last quarter of 2009 was also plagued by devastating typhoons, affecting overall operations, ATS added.

“[But] the lowering of fuel cost, ATS’ single largest expense item, has led to a P2 billion decline in operating expenses and 54-percent improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to register at P1.5 billion in 2009,” the company said.

ATS said its local freight business contributed P5 billion in 2009, an 8-percent or P414-million decrease from year-ago level. Its passenger business revenue fell by P343 million to P2.2 billion from P2.6 billion in 2008.

"K"

Negros Navigation unveils NN Freight
By EDU LOPEZ, Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2010, 2:51pm

Negros Navigation (NN) has unveiled recently what it promises to be a smart choice for cargo shipping – NN Freight.

NN Freight aims to provide faster and more efficient transport of cargo to practically any destination in the Philippines.

With nationwide coverage, NN Freight offers door-to-door, pier-to-pier, door-to-pier, and pier-to-door delivery for the convenience of its many customers.

NN Chairman Sulficio Tagud, Jr. believes that cargo service should begin right at the doorstep of every customer and ends not only at the piers but right where the recipients are and where the goods are needed.

"NN Freight will go wherever its customers want it to go. We will get their goods wherever they may be: In their homes, offices, warehouses, production centers, and factories, and deliver them exactly where they want them received," said Tagud in a statement.

Tagud has steered Negros Navigation from a near basket case to one of the strongest ocean liners in the country today.

Successful and on-time delivery of cargo is ensured by NN's regular shipping schedules on regular routes throughout the year.

"NN's regular schedules will provide logistics and supplies managers a distinct advantage in planning and formulating efficient and cost-effective distribution strategies for their companies," according to Tagud.

NN also recently upgraded their existing fleet and added more new vessels to expand cargo capacity and to ensure the safety and security of its delivery. It has been a trusted leader in transporting passengers and cargo for more than 77 years, making it one of the most experienced shipping companies in the country.

Customers will also experience the warm personalized service of NN Freight's highly trained and experienced staff whenever they come to send and receive their freight.

Topping it all, NN Freight offers the most value for money with one of the most competitive freight forwarding prices in the market today. Negros Navigation has been known to provide the most affordable prices for its various services, especially for its thousands of passengers.

The philosophy behind NN Freight's quality of service delivery is best articulated by chairman Tagud: "We are here to inconvenience ourselves, for the utmost convenience of our customers."

"K"

posted by: NegrosanonOld Sagay Sea Port- Sagay City
The 2nd seaport in Sagay City
Target route: Sagay City to Batangas City
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4394650331_6fbb4e654a_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4394650327_810eedddc9_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4394650337_6fe4a61dab_o.jpg

CPA: Project to bring in bigger ships (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20100305-256743/CPA-Project-to-bring-in-bigger-ships)


Cebu can accommodate bigger ships once the dredging project of the Cebu Ports Authority is completed in nine months’ time.

This is what engineer Rido Soliano, planning division head of the authority’s engineering department, said in a telephone interview with CEBU DAILY NEWS.

“Currently, we can only accommodate ships with drafts as big as 8.5 meters and once our project gets completed with funding from the Development Bank of the Philippines, we can now accommodate up to 12 meters,” Soliano said.

A ship's draft, which is the vertical distance between the ship's waterline and the hull, determines the minimum depth of water that the ship can safely navigate.

Soliano said the project was in line with the agency's thrust to improve services and accommodate bigger vessels, given that Cebu is an international port.

There are two phases for the project according to Engr. Soliano. The first phase will be the dredging of the Mactan Channel and its approaches to the port while the second phase will include reinforcement of existing port structures to prevent them from collapsing.

For the project, CPA got financial assistance in the form of a P600 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Bong Amore, the DBP account officer handling the CPA loan, said that P600 million represents 90 percent of the total project cost.

The remaining 10 percent serves as CPA’s equity.

Payments terms as well as interest rate will still have to be computed according to Amore. These will be available once an evaluation of CPA's financial capability is completed.

Amore said that they do not have a fixed limit on the loanable amount.

“We also have access to foreign funds so we always have available funds for developmental projects like this,” Amore said.

For the project to be completed within nine months or 270 calendar days, Soliano said that they also proposed to DBP the creation of a Project Management Office that will supervise the whole project.

The DBP and CPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding sealing the partnership on Feb. 18 at the CPA office in the North Reclamation Area. The organizations were represented by CPA general manager Angelo C. Verdan and DBP regional head and vice president Rosalier B. Dagondon with other officials of CPA and DBP.

/Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap

PCG to implement 'Oplan Mahal na Araw' (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=12&sid=&nid=12&rid=262749)

MANILA, March 6 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is preparing for the implementation of “Oplan Mahal na Araw” to address the expected influx of sea travelers during the coming Holy Week observance, particularly from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday (April 1 to 4).

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the 10 PCG districts, 55 stations and 194 detachments around the country have started to initiate meetings with local shipping companies, shipowners/operators, port authorities, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) for the establishment of passenger assistance centers from March 30 to April 14.

The passenger assistance centers aim to help ensure the orderly, safe and secure conduct of embarkation of passengers and loading of cargo so as to give the PCG boarding teams ample time for boarding and inspection of vessels prior to the vessel departure.

The PCG has enjoined shipping and port authorities to adopt as much as possible the airline model in order to avoid carrying of excess passengers and overloading of cargo and to give more time for the proper lashing and stowage of cargo.

“Shipowners are also enjoined to sell tickets much ahead of time to avoid the rush and stranding of passengers and buses/vehicles and to ensure submission of complete passenger manifest. Vessels masters or chief mates must likewise pay particular attention to the accurate weights of cargo to help ascertain proper stowage and stability of vessel,” he said.

The PCG will be putting up passenger assistance centers in the ports to be manned jointly by PCG, Philippine Ports Authority, MARINA and PCGA personnel. The PCG deployable response teams such as composite sea marshals, Special Operations Group (SOG, and K9 personnel and members of special medical assistance response teams (Smart) shall be added for enhanced security in busy/critical ports.

The PCG said some of the busy and critical ports are: Sta. Clara, Batangas; Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Caticlan, Roxas; Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Odiongan, Romblon; Dalahican, Lucena; Balanacan, Marinduque; Kawit Pier, Marinduque; Sta. Cruz Pier, Marinduque; Atimonan, Quezon; Matnog, Sorsogon; Allen, Samar; Lipata, Surigao; Balingoan Port, Misamis Oriental; and Camiguin. (PNA)

Ferry service from Bataan to MOA resumes April 1 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=263203)

ORION, Bataan, March 9 (PNA) -- The operations of ferry service from this port to Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City via Manila Bay will resume on April 1.

Bataan second district Rep. Abet S. Garcia said that Aboitiz Shipping Lines will deploy its Super CAT ferry boats to ply the Orion-MOA route.

Garcia expressed optimism that the resumption of the ferry boat service here will be patronized by the public since it will bring directly the commuters to MOA, the largest shopping center in the country.

In the past years, a number of ferry boat companies put up services from Orion to Philippine International Convention Center in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

However, they were not patronized by the commuters due to location and expensive fares.

Travel time from Orion port to MOA is approximately 45 minutes, which is shorter than taking a trip by land.

Garcia said ticketing offices will be put up in RCPI offices in Bataan.

There will also mini buses or jeepneys to ferry passengers in Balanga City, he said.

He also said that ferry service will soon reopen to Mariveles town to serve the investors and workers inside the Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) now converted by law, into Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). (PNA)

CPA: Project to bring in bigger ships (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20100305-256743/CPA-Project-to-bring-in-bigger-ships)


Cebu can accommodate bigger ships once the dredging project of the Cebu Ports Authority is completed in nine months’ time.

This is what engineer Rido Soliano, planning division head of the authority’s engineering department, said in a telephone interview with CEBU DAILY NEWS.

“Currently, we can only accommodate ships with drafts as big as 8.5 meters and once our project gets completed with funding from the Development Bank of the Philippines, we can now accommodate up to 12 meters,” Soliano said.

A ship's draft, which is the vertical distance between the ship's waterline and the hull, determines the minimum depth of water that the ship can safely navigate.

Soliano said the project was in line with the agency's thrust to improve services and accommodate bigger vessels, given that Cebu is an international port.

There are two phases for the project according to Engr. Soliano. The first phase will be the dredging of the Mactan Channel and its approaches to the port while the second phase will include reinforcement of existing port structures to prevent them from collapsing.

For the project, CPA got financial assistance in the form of a P600 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Bong Amore, the DBP account officer handling the CPA loan, said that P600 million represents 90 percent of the total project cost.

The remaining 10 percent serves as CPA’s equity.

Payments terms as well as interest rate will still have to be computed according to Amore. These will be available once an evaluation of CPA's financial capability is completed.

Amore said that they do not have a fixed limit on the loanable amount.

“We also have access to foreign funds so we always have available funds for developmental projects like this,” Amore said.

For the project to be completed within nine months or 270 calendar days, Soliano said that they also proposed to DBP the creation of a Project Management Office that will supervise the whole project.

The DBP and CPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding sealing the partnership on Feb. 18 at the CPA office in the North Reclamation Area. The organizations were represented by CPA general manager Angelo C. Verdan and DBP regional head and vice president Rosalier B. Dagondon with other officials of CPA and DBP.

/Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap

isnt the mactan channel too congested with both domestic and international cargo vessels?

re Cebu Port, i think there still enough space to accommodate bigger ships particularly at the mandaue reclamation area between gothong pier and ouano/smc wharf...

Ro-Ro vessel, tumirik sa karagatan ng Surigao del Norte
3/13/2010 2:42:56 PM
BUTUAN CITY - Isang barko ng Monetengro Shipping Lines ang tumirik sa karagatan malapit sa Kapa port sa Surigao del Norte.

Inihayag ni Philippine Coast Guard Spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo na kaninang umaga pa tumirik sa gitna ng karagatan ang M/V Maria Sophia.

Batay sa impormasyong natanggap ng Coast Guard, may 85 pasahero ang nasabing barko.

Kaagad daw inatasan ng Coast Guard ang barko nitong BRP Romblon na puntahan ang nasabing Ro-Ro vessel.

Ayon kay Balilo, nasiraan ng makina ang nasabing sasakyang dagat ngunit sa pinakahuling impormasyon ng Coast Guard, ligtas naman daw ang kalagayan ng mga pasahero ng barko.

swerte lng may ari ng barkong na yon (Montinegro) sobrang luma na, nakadikit kc kay madam... no suspension be imposed...ganun lng talaga, weather weather lng... ha, ha, ha!!... buhay pinoy talaga!!!

SC affirms granting of health benefits to sick seaman
MANILA, March 15 (PNA) - The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday affirmed the decision of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) granting health benefits to a seaman who acquired kidney ailment while at work on Jan. 23, 2003.

In a seven-page decision, the SC 2nd Division affirmed the ruling of the NLRC which said that the affliction of gallstone of seaman Marcos Abalos was not covered by the standard terms and conditions of Filipino seafarers.

The case stemmed from the petition filed by Bandila Shipping and Fuyoh Shipping that sought to disallow the grant of disability benefits and sickness allowance to Abalos.

Earlier, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the ruling of the NLRC.

Nonetheless, the SC dismissed the CA decision that said that the sickness of the seaman was not work-related such that it was a kind of disease that could not be diagnosed before the seaman boards the ship. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=264446

got words from insider that SF20 is already in town... she is already in cebu but will proceed anytime this week to Batangas for refitting... nothing grand daw... max is 2 weeks then she will sail already.

the team to pick-up SF21 is already in Japan and anytime in April, SF21 will be arriving. again 2 weeks for refitting and she will be sailing already.

we can expect daw both SF20/21 together in late may or early june... target route is cebu and northern mindanao ports like cagayan and nasipit.

"K"

^^ Naghahanap ako ng picture or rendering ng SF21 pero wala akong makita...
puro Hawaii Superferry ang results.. LOL

bai, makita nimo na sa flickr.com site then ngdto ka sa philippine SHIP spotter society daghan cla picture future Supeferry... ex mv sunflower kogane (SF20) ug ex mv sunflower nishiki (SF21)...abot na pinas ang mv sfkogane last week ata... nanghid lng kng kopyahon nimo...

musta man dha iligan ngbrownout gihapon... looy man ta dri mindanao 6-8hrs ang brownout grabe...

ATS paid php45.2m duty tax to cebu customs for mv SunFlower Kogane (future Superferry 20)... she's now in keppel-batangas for refurbishment works...

press released re.duty tax paid by Aboitiz Transport System for their new superferries...


URL= http://balita.ph/2010/03/19/cebu-customs-gets-p45-2m-tax-from-aboitiz-importation/

http://balita.ph/2010/03/19/cebu-customs-gets-p45-2m-tax-from-aboitiz-ship-importation/

bai, makita nimo na sa flickr.com site then ngdto ka sa philippine SHIP spotter society daghan cla picture future Supeferry... ex mv sunflower kogane (SF20) ug ex mv sunflower nishiki (SF21)...abot na pinas ang mv sfkogane last week ata... nanghid lng kng kopyahon nimo...

musta man dha iligan ngbrownout gihapon... looy man ta dri mindanao 6-8hrs ang brownout grabe...

thanks.. na search na nku sa internet ang SF21 og SF20.. another good ship for Aboitiz.. :)

Ok raman Iligan pre.. Uwan kadyot.. 3 hrs ra brownout... Pabor man gud kayo Agus diri.. :cheers:

OT:

Bakit ba kailangan talagang i seal yung front bow door ng roro-ship katulad ng Kogane at mga nakikita kong roro ships ng Cebu Ferries... Why not use it para madali lang mag unload ng container vans..

For security purposes na lang cguro, baka bumukas pag mahampas ng malaking alon habang tumatakbo, tulad ng nangyari sa europe barkong ferry ms estonia bumukas ang unahan sa lakas ng hampas ng alon, derechong lumubog

There's a rumor that Sun Flower Nishiki (SF21) will
somehow be here in the 24th of March in Cebu?

It is a positive outlook that more of international cruise choose philippines as one of thier port of call. Philippines should invest on making a world class harbors. The North and South harbor of manila should be renovated and dedicate one if this for all foriegn cruise ship.

got info that Superferry will no longer be calling the port of Tagbiliran? how true?

"K"

@ kadayao

superferry has no available ship to ply that route for now, not only tagbilaran, but also iloilo, puerto princesa, coron and dipolog actually marami na rin silang tinangal na route... todate, only SF5, SF12 & SF19 (3 ships) were sailing... ship's sked:

SF5 - mnl-ceb-dgte v.v.
mnl-bcd-ozc-ign-bcd-mnl
SF19 - mnl-ceb-zam-cot v.v.
mnl-zam-ges-dvo v.v.
mnl-sur-nas-ceb-mnl
SF12 - mnl-ceb-cgy v.v.
mnl-ceb-nas-cgy-ceb-mnl

... from march to may 2010 no change of schedule, check www.superferry.com.ph

PCG mulling to adopt advance ticketing system for shipping industry
MANILA, March 24 (PNA) - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is planning to introduce the advance booking and ticketing system to the domestic shipping industry in its bid to reduce accidents and increase efficiency in the fleet.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said that the system will be easy to enforce considering the high-tech capabilities of most vessel operators.

In this system, Tamayo said, there will be a cut-off on ticket sales. Cargo owners — particularly those using the roll on-roll off system — will also have to book in advance.

Tamayo said the process allows maritime law enforcers to thoroughly check the number of passengers and look at cargo stowage and lashing.

He added that the PCG will detain any vessel non-compliant with the system,

Presently, ship operators are permitted to sell tickets and book cargoes right before vessel departure to maximize revenues, leaving maritime law enforcers no time to check the manifest and relying solely on the Master’s Oath of Safe Departure.

Passenger and cargo control barriers in major gateways are now being constructed. The coast guard is also completing training of its personnel to enforce the new system.

Maritime disasters in the country are commonly caused by human error, overloading and improper cargo stowage and lashing, as was the case with the sinking of Sulpicio’s Princess of the Stars in 2008, SuperFerry 9, and the twin disasters in December 2009. (PNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=266029

It is a positive outlook that more of international cruise choose philippines as one of thier port of call. Philippines should invest on making a world class harbors. The North and South harbor of manila should be renovated and dedicate one if this for all foriegn cruise ship.

the problem is that when they arrive in North Harbor.. they will are greeted by the harsh reality of Tondo.. :ohno:

South harbor would be fine but it needs to expand further more to accomodate large cruise ships..

there are also good ports for cruise ships and that would be probably at Cebu or Subic Bay.. Palawan has also some potentials especially in Honda Bay..

@seastwofly

thanks for the info... additional info from what i gathered, SF01 & SF02 is back na daw by april...

deployment of SF20 & 21 might be delayed daw due to all drydocking facilities in the country today are full.

"K"

@ kadayao

so, SF2 now sailing again next month, gud news!! hopefully, they'll call at iloilo and tagbilaran ports again...

@ seastwofly - based on my what i gathered confirm na si SF02 & SF01 next week... however got words that tagbiliran will be drop from their port of call.

"K"

PCG notes rise in number of sea travelers as Holy Week observance nears
MANILA, March 26 (PNA) -- As the annual Holy Week observance approaches, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has noted a significant increase in the number of passengers traveling by sea.

Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, said the number of sea travelers has increased by more than 100 percent since Monday.

According to Tamayo, they expect the figure to reach its peak this coming weekend, with the end of school classes this month, apart from the number of employees who are taking their annual vacation leave.

“Many students travel home to their provinces to spend the Holy Week with their families,” the PCG head said.

Admiral Tamayo noted that during normal days, the number of passengers boarding the Negros Navigation Shipping Lines vessel M/V St. Joseph the Worker averaged only 700 to 800.

“But when we conducted our inspection the past days, the number of passengers more than doubled to 1,700 per ship,” he said.

The M/V St. Joseph the Worker has a 2,200-passenger capacity and 200 crew members.

Tamayo said the PCG has prepared for the implementation of “Oplan Semana Santa” (Holy Week) as he directed his 10 PCG districts, 55 stations and 194 detachments all over the country to be on their guard and be prepared for any eventuality.

He said he has tapped some 300 PCG personnel belonging to the Deployable Response Group (DPG) to serve as augmentation in field offices considered as “critical” ports.

“We are deploying augmentation force in critical ports such as Batangas, Caticlan, Lucena and Cebu. Many sea travelers are expected to flock in these ports,” Tamayo said.

The DPG consists of medical teams, Special Operations Group (SOG) or the divers, sea marshals, K9 units, Maritime Environment Protection Units, and rescue teams.

At the same time, sea travelers are advised to go to the ports two hours before departure.

“This is to give way for pre-departure inspection time to ensure that all the safety measures would be conducted before the vessel would be allowed to sail,” Tamayo said.

He also disclosed that they would be imposing stringent boarding regulations to prevent overloading and ensure that proper pre-departure inspection has been conducted.

Shipping and port authorities are enjoined to adopt the airline mode in order to avoid carrying of excess passengers and overloading of cargo and to give more time for proper lashing and stowage of cargo.

Under the airline mode, the passengers would have to either book reservations or buy their tickets early and to arrive at the pier a couple of hours early.

“Passengers would have to wait for the next scheduled trip if they do not come early,” Tamayo said.

He also urged the ship captains to submit their Master’s Oath of Safety Departure (MOSD), which would contain the number of passengers and cargo, before they leave the port. (PNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=266617

any updates tungkol sa supercat23?saka sa port of batangas na din. :D salamat salamat

Aboitiz's SuperCat acquires new fast craft
MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- As part of its efforts to boost its passenger-carrying capability, Aboitiz Transport System's SuperCat unit recently announced the purchase of a new fast craft, SuperCat 38.

This newest addition to the SuperCat fast ferry family servicing the passengers taking the Bacolod-Iloilo routes and vice versa.

SuperCat 36, the twin of SuperCat 38, is also servicing the Calapan-Batangas route.

The new vessel, which has the first ever state-of-the- art resilient mounting that acts like a shock absorber in rough seas, results in a smoother and more comfortable ride as explained by Capt. Jose Correos, the Master Mariner of SuperCat 38.

Aside from the new vessel, SuperCat announces servicing a new route -- Manila-Bataan and vice versa.

After the initial talks with Cong. Abet Garcia and Gov. Tet Garcia of the Province of Bataan, the management of SuperCat has agreed to deploy M/V SuperCat 25 to serve the riding public.

The ferry ride from SM Mall of Asia Jetty Port to the Port of Orion in Bataan will approximately take one hour instead of the current travel time by land of two-three hours.

According to Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation president Ramon G. Villordon Jr. "This deployment is in consonance with the company's direction of promoting domestic tourism by serving tourist oriented destinations such as Bataan which is the home of the famous Corregidor and a place which boasts of rich culture and history and the beauty of unspoilt beaches."

Orion will be the home of Supercat in Bataan. It is now transformed into a modern port complex and is readily accessible through mini buses and other local transport coming from Balanga and nearby municipalities. Orion is the gateway of its neighboring provinces like Pampanga and Zambales.

Travelling by sea via SuperCat serves as an alternative in reaching Subic and Olongapo.

"While we place the highest importance on making every voyage safe, enjoyable and comfortable, we also want to continue making SuperCat an affordable option for the riding public," Villordon concluded. (PNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=267529

the problem is that when they arrive in North Harbor.. they will are greeted by the harsh reality of Tondo.. :ohno:

South harbor would be fine but it needs to expand further more to accomodate large cruise ships..

there are also good ports for cruise ships and that would be probably at Cebu or Subic Bay.. Palawan has also some potentials especially in Honda Bay..
FYI, cruise ships dock at South Harbor, not north.

Aboitiz's SuperCat acquires new fast craft
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=267529

i think it is a human error.opinion ko lang.hehe, mejo nbawasan ako ng tiwala sa supercat tuloy, i know na ndi dapat lahatin.feeling ko kc dati napaka-safe ko pag nakasakay jan, ngaun me kaunting kapabayaan na naganap.hehe:banana::banana:

Breaking Story:
Butuan Bay of Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. was sold to
Trans-Asia Shipping Corp. and to be renamed as Trans-Asia 5...

Butuan Bay 1:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36025045@N08/3772265322/

sana yung subic bay (kambal ng world) or kahit yung manila bay na lang (kambal ng SF6)

http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/xx242/seastwofly/P1010146.jpg
mv "FILIPINAS OZAMIS" Route: Cebu-Ozamiz-Iligan v.v. 3x weekly

;54694491']sana yung subic bay (kambal ng world) or kahit yung manila bay na lang (kambal ng SF6)


It is already converted to Cargo ship, Carlos A. Gothong Lines is not now serving Passenger Vessel.:ohno:

K Line ships calls at ICTSI's MICT
MANILA, April 11 (PNA) - International cargo carrier carrier K Line's Guayaquil Bridge made its maiden voyage at International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)'s Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) recently.

The K line ship, M/V Guayaquil Bridge, which has a capacity of 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), joins sister ships Anderson and Jakarta Bridge in its Japan-Manila-Thailand routing service.

K line's addition of new ships to its Japan-Manila route demonstrated the fact that the country's cargo carrying industry is on its way to recovery after being blitzed by the global financial crisis.

ICTSI also earlier reported that its Tecon Suape S.A. (TSSA) received eight new rubber tired gantries (RTGs) for its Suape Container Terminal (SCT).

The purchase is part of TSSA’s three-year USD45 million capital investment program for the terminal, which will further improve capacity and operations at the SCT, the most modern container handling facility in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil.

Manufactured by Noell Cranes in China, each RTG has a stacking capacity of one-over-five high and a six-row-plus-one truck lane.

The RTG spreaders have an extension range of up to 40 feet and a lifting capacity under spreader of 41 tons.

It is also equipped with global and container positioning systems. The RTGs, which will be operational by end March, bring SCT’s RTG fleet to 12 units.

TSSA is a subsidiary of ICTSI, a leading port management company involved in the operations and development of 20 marine terminals and port projects in 14 countries worldwide.

For over 20 years, ICTSI has been the private sector partner of choice for world-class trade facilitation in the economies it serves.(PNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=269035

Delayed Manila harbor project gets green light (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100412-263761/Delayed-Manila-harbor-project-gets-green-light)

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has finally given the go-signal for the take-over by a private consortium of Manila’s dilapidated North Harbor after a labor row was settled.

The harbor was ready for take-over in January but PPA general manager Oscar M. Sevilla stayed the order “so there will be no bloodshed” between waterfront labor groups and Manila North Harbour Port Inc. (MNHPI).

The consortium is a joint venture between Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. owned by Reghis Romero II and Metro Pacific Investment Corp., the local infrastructure giant chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan.

In a Notice of Turnover dated April 8, 2010, Sevilla said MNHPI had agreed to absorb the existing port workers and pay their back wages.

Other issues concerning the equipment to be brought in by the consortium and the fees to be paid by shipping lines had also been clarified or resolved, Sevilla said in the notice.

“The Feb. 12, 2010, letter suspending the turnover of the facilities, operation and management of the Manila North Harbor is hereby lifted,” the notice read.

Sevilla ordered the take-over to be completed no later than April 15, exactly three months after the original take-over scheduled on Jan. 15.

The take-over was delayed mainly due to disagreements between MNHPI and several labor groups at the facility regarding the terms of the workers’ employment under the new management.

The waterfront workers had initially denounced the deal with MNHPI as being disadvantageous to the government.

Last November, MNHPI won the 25-year contract to modernize the North Harbor in an auction where it was declared the only qualified bidder.

MNHPI offered to spend over P10 billion to P14 billion over the next 25 years to improve the port’s facilities.

The PPA admitted that Manila’s old harbor was “on the brink of collapse” and that its privatization was long overdue.

MNHPI also had an initial dispute with shipping lines, which warned that the new concession fees proposed by the company would result in hikes in cargo and passenger rates.

There were also some questions from port officials about MNHPI’s equipment and readiness to operate the North Harbor.

Sevilla’s notice said all the issues had been clarified or resolved in accordance with a PPA-MNHPI joint committee resolution.

The government hopes the modernization project will boost inter-island shipping and trade. The harbor will reportedly be dredged to accommodate bigger ships and fitted with modern cranes and other equipment to handle larger container vans.

The government also hopes to earn more money, reportedly up to P6.8 billion in 25 years, from the modernization deal.

^^Kaya pala mahigpit ang security kanina sa North Harbor. At kung sino lang ang may ID yun lang pinapapasok. At maraming pulis na nakabantay.

Nagkagulo daw kahapon doon sa pier. :ohno:

^^This rehabilitation program has been long overdue...:)

Any update sa Sulpicio Lines?

Any update sa Sulpicio Lines?


mv Princess of the Carribean now sailing and allowed to carry pax also, same route... :lol::banana::okay:

^^is she plying ozamiz port again? wow nice:cheers::)

^^is she plying ozamiz port again? wow nice:cheers::)


Yes! same schedule, starting tomorrow friday April 16th leaving for Cebu 9pm then on sunday for Dumaguete and Manila, actually i checked this am their office, almost fully booked na raw ang saver class for manila, cguro by sunday wala na bakante...:cheers::banana::lol::banana::okay:

mv Princess of the Carribean now sailing and allowed to carry pax also, same route... :lol::banana::okay:


So far how many passenger's vessel of SLI allowed to sail?

So far how many passenger's vessel of SLI allowed to sail?



Only three SLI pax ships were allowed to carry pax, POT South, POT Earth and latest POT Caribbean... SLI now called PHILIPPINE SPAN ASIA CARRIER CORP...:):cheers:

Only three SLI pax ships were allowed to carry pax, POT South, POT Earth and latest POT Caribbean... SLI now called PHILIPPINE SPAN ASIA CARRIER CORP...:):cheers:


Thanks for the info, but what about Princess of the Universe? my favorite vessel to ride...

^^inaabangan ko rin yan.

Any update sa modernization ng north harbor?

^^inaabangan ko rin yan.

Any update sa modernization ng north harbor?

mukhang tuloy-tuloy na... ang NMC/Lorenzo lumipat na ng ATI/Pier 13... ayaw daw nila sa North Harbour... prior to the take-over nag try sila mag dock sa Batangas to probe that they can exist with or without North Harbor.

"K"

more on NMC/Lorenzo... they recently purchased a freighter vessel to be called M/V Lorcon Dumaguete

"K"

for those interested in NMC's M/V Lorcon Dumaguete...

said vessel is formerly owned by Oak Shipping and was previously called Oak 1. search in the internet however failed to produce any picture of Oak 1. there is an Oak shipping Services (OSS) thou that is based in india and based on their website they have chartered/freighter service.

anyway, MV Lorcon Dumaguete is expected to arrived in the country this month (or already in the country?) and maiden voyage is within first/second week of may. she has a capacity of 141 TEUs and her proposed route is MANILA-DAVAO-GENSAN-MANILA.

"K"

@kadayao
Thanks for the info :D

She was the former Tiger Creek. A big Cargo Ship.
I thought she was small but in actual size and the pics.
Its quite big.

www.vesseltracker.com/en/ShipPhotos/264542-Mv-Lorcon-Duma...

www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo-405521-TIGER+C...

Ask lang yung KEPPEL CEBU shipyard ba closed na? yung nsa may lapulapu side ...kc last time na nakita ko parang wala nang activity sa area.

Ask lang yung KEPPEL CEBU shipyard ba closed na? yung nsa may lapulapu side ...kc last time na nakita ko parang wala nang activity sa area.

I dont Have any idea if it is Already close. Maybe pending lang siguro ag ilang mga gi pangbuhat.

@ cebuboi & Janzel Romachmann..


The news is, Keppel-Cebu will shift their operation from Ships Repair and Drydocking to purely Shipbuilding...

Update re: SLI's vessels:

> M/V Princess of the Caribbean - down due to genset problem
> M/V Princess of the Universe - due to mechanical trouble

they won't be back in service until mid-May

"K"

@ cebuboi & Janzel Romachmann..


The news is, Keppel-Cebu will shift their operation from Ships Repair and Drydocking to purely Shipbuilding...



Thanks for the info dude...

Lorenzo Shipping affected by 2009 economic slowdown
April 22, 2010

LORENZO Shipping Corp., a company that moves cargoes domestically, said its 2009 operations had been affected by the economic slowdown of the country that peaked last year as most manufacturers and distributors reduced their output.

The company, majority owned by the Magsaysay group, said there was also excess capacity last year as a result of the bullish outlook of various market players in early 2008.

As a result, Lorenzo Shipping’s net income dropped to P24.07 million in 2009, a decrease by 63 percent from the previous year’s P65.12 million.

During the year, the company spent some P140 million for the dry-docking of three vessels and purchased some 464 container vans worth about P34 million.

“Before the year [2009] ended, the company sold its oldest vessel, MV Lorcon Luzon, at a net loss of P14 million,” the company said in its report.

Revenues last year were just at P1.46 billion, lower by 9 percent compared with the previous year, as the company’s vessels carried lesser containers.

It managed, however, to cut its cost of services by about 5 percent despite the increase in vessel charges, such as stevedoring, lift-on, lift-off fees, and dry-docking cost.

In October the company sold its 37-year-old vessel MV Lorcon Luzon to Aden Scrap Trading Llc., a company based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The sale of the vessel, which has a capacity of 400 twenty equivalent units, was expected after officials earlier announced they wanted to sell the company’s vessels that were between 30 and 40 years old and replace them with new ones.

Lorenzo Shipping currently has seven vessels. MV Lorcon Davao, now 31 years old, is the oldest in the company’s fleet, followed by MV Lorcon Zamboanga at 25 years.

MV Lorcon Cagayan de Oro, MV Lorcon Cebu and MV Lorcon Visayas are all 23 years old. Its youngest vessel is MV Lorcon Manila at 13 years.

The company also owns land-based cargo-handling equipment and other container yards and warehouses in Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.

Written by VG Cabuag / Philippine Daily Inquirer


"K"

new color of sulpicio/psacc

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4596958791_8c49def02f_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/4596958543_c948a94c99_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/4596958927_1edddb2fe9_m.jpg

superferry 19 in nasipit

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/4597473308_07f7de9fa3_m.jpg

superferry 2 in nasipit
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/4597471890_74807847cd_m.jpg

cagayan bay in nasipit

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/4593601961_76636a09bb_m.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4593602401_d7d43b1a7b_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1083/4594218846_ea43db28cc_m.jpg

evolution of Sulpicio Lines color -- "K"

the original/classic green
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1284/4597734029_6d8db089df_m.jpg


the magenta/orange color after the POTStar incident
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4593718839_d3e67c7193_m.jpg



as philippine scan asia carrier corp. (PSACC)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4596958791_8c49def02f_m.jpg

Kahit kailan pangit talaga bumuo ng Logo ang SLI or anong company naba sila ngayon? walang dating ang logo nila ngayon, sorry to say :bash:

Kahit kailan pangit talaga bumuo ng Logo ang SLI or anong company naba sila ngayon? walang dating ang logo nila ngayon, sorry to say :bash:

the new logo of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC) formerly known as sulpicio...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/4596958927_1edddb2fe9_m.jpg

pangit ba bulldog? baka sa recto lang ginawa hehehe.... :lol:


"K"

the new logo of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC) formerly known as sulpicio...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/4596958927_1edddb2fe9_m.jpg

pangit ba bulldog? baka sa recto lang ginawa hehehe.... :lol:


"K"


Para sa akin wala talagang dating parang pang small time cargo lang or pang motor boat lang :lol: sorry sa pintas ko para din yan sa kanila pero i love SLI first choice ko sila over Superferry.

Sana pati body ng vessel nila dapat baguhin din ang kulay dahil identified parin sila bilang SLI

10 skeletal remains from wreck of Princess identified
By Sandy Araneta (The Philippine Star) Updated May 20, 2010 12:00 AM

from: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=576666&publicationSubCategoryId=67

MANILA, Philippines - Ten out of 85 skeletal remains retrieved from the M/V Princess of the Stars, which sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon in 2008, have been identified, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) said yesterday.

Lawyer Persida Rueda-Acosta, PAO chief, expressed hope that the rest of the skeletal remains would be identified by her agency’s forensic laboratory “on or before June 21.”

Acosta quoted divers of the Philippine Coast Guard and salvaging firm Royal Jessan Petromin Resources Inc. (JPRI) as saying that there could still be 400 skeletal remains in the wreck of Princess of the Stars.

Acosta said they would name the 10 identified victims later.

Operatives of the Coast Guard and JPRI started their retrieval operations during the first week of May.

The PAO has exhumed the skeletal remains of at least 38 victims of the sea tragedy that were buried in a Cebu cemetery, for anthropological and identification process, together with those retrieved from the wreck of the sunken vessel.

Acosta said the National Bureau of Investigation no longer has a role in the identification process since PAO already has its own forensic lab.

The Cebu court has directed the NBI to turn over all pieces of evidence in the ship sinking.


"K"

Sulpicio faces another lawsuit for name change (http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/42-rokstories/17766-sulpicio-faces-another-lawsuit-for-name-change)
Thursday, 20 May 2010 00:00
BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL Reporter


WHILE the whole nation has been preoccupied with results of the just concluded automated elections, Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) seemed to have surreptitiously worked for the changing of its corporate name in what may be an apparent move to avoid its liability to the victims of its MV Princess of the Stars that sank more than a year ago.

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief, lawyer Persida Rueda Acosta, disclosed SLI’s move on Wednesday after the families of the victims sought before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the cancellation/revocation of the amendments of the articles of incorporation changing Sulpicio’s corporate name to Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC).

Acosta said that the SEC-approved amendments in Sulpicio’s articles of incorporation was in support of the firm’s pending application before the Maritime Industry Authrority (Marina) to change its corporate name as appearing in its certificate of public conveyance.

In a 13-page petition, the families and relatives of the victims of the Princes of the Stars tragedy said that they came to know of the amendment to Sulpicio’s articles of incorporation when they were informed of the company’s application before the Marina for the change of its corporate name.

“The amendment of respondent’s articles of incorporation wherein its corporate name was changed from Sulpicio Lines Inc. to Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. appears to be fraudulent and has for its purpose of defeating the claims of the herein petitioners who are also the relatives of the victims of the MV Princess of the Stars,” the petition of the victim’s relatives and families said.

It added: “The abrupt move of the herein respondent [PSACC, formerly SLI] in changing its name is an indication that the respondent and its officers are doing everything to avoid their liability to the victims of its vessel, the MV Princess of the Stars.”

Officers also liable

The petitioners pointed out that it is not only the officers and crew of SLI who are being made to account for their negligence but also Sulpicio itself, as a corporation having a separate and distinct personality from its stockholders and officers.

According to them, there is no certainty that by the time the decision in the civil cases for damages is rendered, PSACC will deny any responsibility on the ground that it is a different corporation from Sulpicio, the one that was sued.

The petitioners noted that the general information sheet attached to the amended articles of incorporation of PSACC is that of Sulpicio.

“. . . . the amendment to respondent’s articles of incorporation should be revoked and cancelled to prevent any attempt at obstructing and impeding the public’s right to be informed, in the least, of the true identity and history of the company, with which it deals; and consequently be allowed to make an informed choice based on such information,” the petition said.

The PAO served as counsel for the families of the Princess of the Stars victims.

The petitioners have filed several civil complaints for damages against Sulpicio including its board of directors and officers before the regional trial courts of Manila and Cebu.

Also, a criminal case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to property was also filed against the ship’s navigator, Capt. Florencio Marimon, SLI first vice president Edward Go and several John Does.

The Department of Justice has recommended P320,000 bail each for the two accused.

Reckless imprudence

The Princes of the Stars, the biggest in Sulpicio’s fleet of commercial ships, sank on June 21, 2008 off the coast of Romblon at the height of Typhoon Frank.

Earlier charged by PAO before the Justice department were Enrique Go, SLI president; Eusebio Go, executive vice president; Carlos Go, executive vice president and chief executive officer; Victoriano Go, senior vice president and secretary; and Dominador Go, first vice president.

Acosta said that the respondents caused the death of the victims when they allowed the ship to sail despite the fact that Storm Signal No. 3 was already raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) upon the entry of Frank into the country’s territorial waters on June 20.

“Despite the fact that respondents became aware that Storm Signal No. 3 was already raised in Marinduque, Romblon and Oriental Mindoro, where the MV Princess of the Stars would be traversing, respondents caused the ship to sail, despite being advised by the [Philippine] Coast Guard to seek shelter, even before departure from Pier 12, North Harbor, Manila,” she added.

The PAO also revealed that the Princess of the Stars, as attested by electronic surveillance monitoring equipment, was the only vessel at sea and did not take shelter when the typhoon struck.

It said that the respondents’ negligence was further proved when they failed to ensure that the ship was seaworthy prior its voyage, and lacked the effort to send their other ships to rescue the passengers of the vessel when it was in distress.

“The absence of care tantamount to gross negligence and reckless imprudence on the aforenamed respondent officials of SLI thereby breaching the contract of the carriage between them as common carrier and passengers, was clearly and deliberately shown to due to their absence of lack of effort to send their other ships to rescue the passengers of the MV Princess of the Stars,” the PAO added.

It said that the negligence of the respondents was further manifested when they allowed their ship to be loaded with some 40 metric tons of endosulfan and other toxic substances.

Earlier, the Board of Marine Inquiry found Marimon and other respondents guilty of negligence for their failure to take proper actions when they allowed the ship to sail despite the typhoon and their failure to assess the real emergency, as attested by the master’s belated calls to abandon ship and call for help.

Ciudad de Valencia was sold to MBRS/ Romblon Shipping Lines not to NN
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcgutib/4605874834/

breaking news

sarado daw ang pier 2 to 18? due to strike of dock workers?
the report i got is sketchy... i just received it from our truck driver.
di raw sila makapasok sa kahit anong pier sa north harbor

"K"

^^bukas pa rin ang pier dos. Mahigpit lang ang security. Kung may ID ka papapasukin ka nila. Nagkaroon kasi ng batuhan kanina sa pier kaya naghigpit nanaman ng security. Siguro mga ilang linggo lang yan back to normal na ulit yan.

Breaktime
Attack at fear harbor


By Conrado Banal III
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:07:00 05/24/2010

Filed Under: Trade (general), International (Foreign)Trade


SPARKS ARE FLYING BACK AND forth between two groups over the North Harbor, Manila’s premier shipping port.

How strategic is this port, you may ask? Well, it accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s domestic trade shipping volume.

At the receiving end of the attack is MNHPI, or Manila North Harbor Point, a joint venture between the groups of Reghis Romero (Harbour Centre) and Manuel Pangilinan (PLDT).

The group has a contract with the government to operate North Harbor, offering to invest P14 billion in the port.

But MNHPI is up against a small group of shipping lines—the Philippine Liner and Shipping Association of the Philippines, or PLSA.

From what I gathered, this small group has mounted a media campaign against MNHPI, claiming that all sorts of bad things are happening at the port.

Only seven of the 44 shipping lines operating at North Harbor are members of PLSA. Out of those seven, only three shipping companies are actually part of the group badmouthing MNHPI.

The small gang is composed of Negros Navigation, which incidentally received an order from a court to undergo rehabilitation, and Sulpicio Lines, which owned the MV Princess of the Stars that capsized near Romblon about two years ago, and the MV Doña Paz that sank in 1998 in what the International Maritime Organization considered as the biggest marine tragedy.

The fight of the small group in PLSA is another story. But the three shipping firms claimed in news reports that MNHPI failed to provide cargo-handling equipment.

To answer the group, MNHPI cited the delivery of more than 150 pieces of heavy and medium-sized equipment to the port, and announced that it had complied with all the requirements set by the PPA, or Philippine Ports Authority, under the operating contract.

Reports said that PPA itself validated the delivery of the new equipment, as a precondition to MNHPI’s takeover of the port last month.

But then the small group in the small PLSA responded that, sure, MNHPI delivered the equipment, but they did not conform to standards set by the PPA.

So what was it really?

Nobody said anything about the PPA making a list of new equipment needed at the port, including those for cargo handling. In fact, PPA delayed the turnover of the facility to MNHPI until the operator complied with the agency’s requirements.

Frankly, this whole fight is disturbing to me.

Years and years of neglect have turned North Harbor into a pathetic port, with dilapidated facilities and all, not to mention the high incidence of crime.

To the guys down here in my barangay (village), for instance, it is common knowledge that North Harbor is not a place a peace-loving fellow will want to visit. It is home to the Buriki Gang and such elements. And they are not a gentle lot. North Harbor, to us, is a place to be feared.

I just hope that the modernization program for the domestic port goes on as planned, despite the media campaign orchestrated by the small group in the small PLSA.

Does this group want to keep the port in its terrible shape? Heaven help us!

"K"

Its make me puzzled on what and how the Pilipino people react on government project of modernization.
There is always an opposition with a non sense reason. Why does our official entertain this kind of idiotic approach?

i was on board one of the Cebu Ferries vessel yesterday and was able to talked to one of the crew... he told me that CF3 is coming to town soon...

i'm just breaking a good news... will try to get more details when i ride back tomorrow

"K"

You can also post Philippine maritime news in The Philippines | Ports and Shipping News (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1134085) :cheers:

Just passed by in Iligan Port Area...
Negros Navigation now serves Iligan-Tagbilaran every Friday.. :)

OT:

Nasan na pala yung ibang fleet ng Cebu Ferries like
Our Lady of Manaog
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Fatima

Just passed by in Iligan Port Area...
Negros Navigation now serves Iligan-Tagbilaran every Friday.. :)

OT:

Nasan na pala yung ibang fleet ng Cebu Ferries like
Our Lady of Manaog
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Fatima


Yah, NN served TAG & IGN ports leaves MNL every wed 5:30pm for CEB-TAG-OZA-IGN then back to TAG-CEB on fri 9:30pm enroute to MNL...

Those Cebu Ferries ships listed above are sold and broken up, a deadships...

i was on board one of the Cebu Ferries vessel yesterday and was able to talked to one of the crew... he told me that CF3 is coming to town soon...

i'm just breaking a good news... will try to get more details when i ride back tomorrow

"K"


hmmmpp... somebody quoted this news in flickr but did not bother to acknowledge this forum as a source hehehe.... "K"

john_mikeel says:

kadayao said on SSC:
A CF Crew said CF3 is coming to town. Is this true?

thanks john_mikeel for the acknowledgement... i appreciate it!

my source is 100% confident... because they actually won daw the bid... no idea yet what vessel but there was a bidding & they won.... between june/july ang arrival nya dito sa atin... he also said that the team who got CF2 will be the same team to fetch CF3

"K"

147 rescued from grounded vessel
By Ed Amoroso and Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated June 01, 2010 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=580185&publicationSubCategoryId=67

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines – At least 147 passengers were rescued after a vessel they were riding experienced engine trouble along the seashore of Pagbilao, Quezon, yesterday morning, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council said.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said the M/V Lolong was traveling from Dalahican Port in Lucena City to Sta. Cruz in Marinduque. It is owned and operated by the DBP Maritime Laising Corp.

Based on the initial information they received, Balilo said at around 2 a.m. yesterday, the 147 gross ton ship departed from the Dalahican Port, but after 30 minutes of traveling it reportedly encountered engine trouble.

However, the problem was addressed immediately. The stranded passengers were asked to transfer to another ship, the M/V Gloria of Montenegro Shipping Lines, that brought them to Bala-nacan, Marinduque.

"K"

HIDDEN AGENDA
By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes (The Philippine Star) Updated June 02, 2010 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=580447&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Divide and conquer

The ongoing battle for control of the Manila North Harbor has left a group of shipping lines operating at the port divided on the issue.

Sources say the latest demolition job against Harbour Centre of the Romeo family only has the support of three of the seven members of the Philippine Liner and Shipping Association (PLSA). The other shipping lines have opted to remain neutral.

Sadly though, these minority members of PLSA are considered in the shipping industry as laggards.

Other PLSA members opted not to join because they do not want to be used as pawns in the minority’s fight simply because one of their own lost in last year’s bidding for the modernization effort.

The latest foray of these three rogue shipping lines apparently does want to drive a wedge between Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc. and its partner Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

The business community is not happy with the way these minority shipping companies are conducting their nasty media assault on the Manila North Harbour Ports Inc. (MNHPI), the joint venture company between HCPTI and MPIC. Especially since two of these three shipping lines have checkered pasts when it comes to safety and the handling of labor.

The demolition job is feeding on recent news that MPIC wants a higher stake in MNHPI. These three members of the PLSA, using the association as a front, have come out with statements supporting MPIC’s continued investments in MNHPI.

Whether or not MPIC should get a majority stake in MNHPI is a business matter that should be left for the partners to decide.

Analysts say that this latest PR blitz simply just wants the public to believe that these minority group within PLSA is supporting the privatization of the Manila North Harbor. But the fact of the matter is that whether it is MPIC and HCPTI that has majority control of North Harbor, there are shipping operators that want the port for themselves and that for decades now, these operators have misused and abused the port, using it as if it was their own container yard.

Unless we forget, there are also non-PLSA members (37 shipping lines with 44 vessels) who would rather not intervene with the matter.

Even PLSA chair Daniel ‘Bitay’ Lacson has reportedly refused to join the rogue members’ “last-minute sabotage operation” against MNHPI.

For comments, e-mail at philstarhiddenagenda@yahoo.com

"K"