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Asean News

17 Jan 2024

EU Report Recognizes Need for Port Investment Stability

Source: ESPO

The European Parliament has officially adopted the Berendsen report, an own-initiative report on “building a comprehensive European Port Strategy” (585 in favor, 21 against, 26 abstentions).The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed the support for the strategic and vital role that Europe’s ports play for European society and economy. ESPO supports the Parliament’s plea to further harmonize the measures to strengthen the resilience and protection of Europe’s critical infrastructure, including ports.

03 Dec 2023

AD Ports Group and Vietnam Maritime Administration Sign MoU

Source: AD Ports

AD Ports Group and the Vietnam Maritime Administration (VINAMARINE), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to bolster commercial opportunities across various sectors, including ports, logistics, digital solutions, economic cities, free zones, maritime and shipping.Under the terms of the agreement, both entities will focus on key areas of cooperation, including the development and management of dry ports and inland container depots in addition to advanced logistics operations and digital solutions to enhance global maritime and shipping sectors.

17 Oct 2023

Sinwa Group to Acquire Francois Marine & Offshore

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

Sinwa Group announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Francois Marine & Offshore from Northern Marine Group.Francois Marine & Offshore has Asian ship supply operations and infrastructure in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Busan. The acquisition does not include the subsidiary Francois Marine B.V in Rotterdam, nor Francoise Offshore Catering.Thomas Zimmerhaeckel, Sinwa chairman and managing partner at Asean Strategic Partners, said, “The addition of Francois Marine & Offshore…

29 Jun 2023

Mejia Takes the Helm at WMU

Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. (Photo: WMU)

On 29 June, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. assumed office as the eighth President of the World Maritime University (WMU). Appointed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who also serves as Chancellor of the University, President Mejia assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer, overseeing and directing the academic programmes, operations and administration of the University. Professor Mejia is the first President from Asia and the first President who is a graduate of WMU.Regarding his appointment…

09 Jun 2023

China's Largest Naval Training Ship Heads for Philippines in 'Friendly' Tour

File photo - ©Tyg728/Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0

China's largest naval training ship sailed for the Philippines on Friday, its last stop of a regional "friendly" tour, amid growing unease over Chinese maritime activities in the South China Sea.The giant training vessel, Qijiguang, bigger than a typical destroyer, left Brunei on Thursday for the Philippines as part of an around 40-day trip which has included stops in Vietnam and Thailand before Brunei.At the end of its trip, Qijiguang and its crew of 476 navy students and officers would have passed through the Yellow Sea…

03 Apr 2023

Industry Welcomes EU’s Decision on Filipino Seafarer Certificates

© Jouni Niskakoski / Adobe Stock

The European Commission has decided to continue recognising certificates for seafarers issued by the Philippines, one of the world’s largest maritime labour supply countries.In December 2021, following a detailed assessment of the training and certification system in place, the Commission had informed the Philippines that recognition of their seafarer certificates would be withdrawn unless serious measures were taken, including the compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW).

10 Aug 2022

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Names New Chief Executive

Teo Eng Dih

Singapore's Ministry of Transport announced that Teo Eng Dih will take over as chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), succeeding Quah Ley Hoon, who will step down on September 5, 2022.Teo Eng Dih, currently Deputy Secretary (Policy) of the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), is responsible for MINDEF’s defense policy and diplomacy, strategic and public communications, and Total Defense. He oversaw the expansion of defense cooperation with international partners and strengthening of collaborations at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) platform.

12 Jul 2022

US Urges China to End 'Provocative' Behavior in South China Sea

(Photo: Arthur Rosen / U.S. Navy)

Washington will defend treaty ally the Philippines if its forces are attacked in the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, urging China to follow international law and cease "provocative behavior" in the busy waterway.Blinken made the comments on Monday, the sixth anniversary of a ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade each year."We re-affirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces ... would invoke U.S.

25 Jun 2021

Pertamina Shipping Unit to Spend $4 Billion on Fleet Upgrades

Indonesia's state oil company Pertamina's new unit, Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), is looking to spend $4 billion in the next seven years to refurbish its fleet of vessels and upgrade terminals, a top official said on Friday.The new unit plans to replace 23 vessels and expand its fleet, to ensure compliance with the latest International Maritime Organization standards and eventually serve other regional companies, said its director of business planning, Wisnu Medan Santoso."There are many oil and gas players in ASEAN who do not have their own shipping arm, we see this as an opportunity," Wisnu told Reuters, referring to countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations."We have a large captive cargo, we have a large economy of scale.

16 Jul 2020

What's Behind Rising Tensions in the South China Sea?

File photo Chinese seismic vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 (Credit: China Geologic Survey)

The United States this week hardened its position on the South China Sea, where it has accused China of attempting to build a "maritime empire" in the potentially energy-rich waters, despite regional concerns.The rivals have accused each other of stoking tension in the strategic waterway at a time of strained relations over everything from the new coronavirus to trade to Hong Kong.A statement from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on July 13 was the first time the United States…

02 Jul 2020

Grant Awards Target Safer Shipbreaking

© saintmichel85 / Adobe Stock

Engineering X – an international collaboration founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd’s Register Foundation – has awarded nearly £1 million ($1.2 million) in grants to six projects in the U.K. and overseas aimed at tackling the complex social, environmental and engineering challenges of decommissioning ships and offshore structures.From training to improve worker safety in ship recycling facilities in Bangladesh, to assessing the risks of structural failure of decommissioned offshore structures…

22 Jan 2020

Ferry Industry Sets Pace on Critical Solutions

(Photo: BC Ferries)

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan describes a distinctly upbeat period in the worldwide ferry community – and explains how the global trade association plans to take its support to far-reaching new levels.There are times when the phrase “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics” seems all too true, but here’s an honest number for you – ferries carry a global total of more than 2 billion passengers a year, which is almost on a par with airlines.Hard to believe? Not for those of us in the industry, but almost certainly for many citizens and politicians.

24 Oct 2019

Chinese Ship Exits Vietnam's Waters After Disputed Surveys

A Chinese oil survey vessel that has been embroiled in a tense standoff with Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea left Vietnamese-controlled waters on Thursday after more than three months, marine data showed.The Chinese vessel, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, was speeding away from Vietnam's exclusive economic zone towards China on Thursday under the escort of at least two Chinese ships, according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessels.China claims almost all the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea but neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.Tension between Hanoi and Beijing…

17 Oct 2019

Malaysia Readies for the Worst in South China Sea

File Image: A US Navy convoy underway. Credit: US Navy)

Malaysia needs to boost its naval capabilities to prepare for possible conflict in the South China Sea, its foreign minister said on Thursday, even as Southeast Asia's third-largest economy pursues non-militarisation of the disputed waterway.Tensions have escalated in recent weeks, especially after a U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China last month as a challenge to what the U.S. Navy described as excessive Chinese territorial claims in the region.Foreign Minister…

20 Aug 2019

SE Asia Plans Oil Spill Contingency

According to International Maritime Organization (IMO), one of the key elements in oil spill contingency planning is to define the communication channels to be used by cooperating parties when facing an incident.A workshop in Pulau Indah, Klang, Malaysia (19-21 August) has brought together officials from states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to help bring into operation the Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, which was adopted in 2018.Participants from nine countries got to grips with key elements of the plan and practiced communications between States, in order to identify any gaps and lessons to be learned.The workshop will help drive forward the implementation of this recently adopted plan…

30 Jul 2019

Vietnamese Fishermen Want Action Against China

A Vietnamese fishermen's group has called on the government to take stronger measures for the removal of a Chinese oil survey vessel that Vietnam accuses of violating its sovereignty in the South China Sea.Vietnamese and Chinese ships have been in a weeks-old standoff near an offshore oil block, the latest confrontation in waters that are a potential global flashpoint as the United States challenges China's sweeping maritime claims.The busy waterway will be high on the agenda this week as countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Bangkok with foreign ministers from China, the United States and other powers.Vietnam…

10 Jul 2019

Yang Ming Enhances Network

Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced new China-Thailand direct service and Thailand - Indonesia express service.Under the impact of rising global trade tensions, a relocation and adjustment of cargo flow and supply chains is expected. To cope with this trend, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. continuously strengthens its Asian service network as well as the quality of Asian routes.Yang Ming has announced the launch of a new Intra-Asia service, China-Thailand Service (CTX service). The first sailing is scheduled for July 12th 2019, departing from Shanghai.A total of three container ships with loadable capacity of 1,200 TEU will be deployed for CTX service, of which one is contributed by Yang Ming.

04 Jun 2019

MEPSEAS Project Event on Viet Nam's Seas

Under the Marine Environment Protection of the South-East Asian Seas (MEPSEAS) project, a first national training course in Hai Phong, Viet Nam (3-7 June) is dealing with legal implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) and Anti-Fouling Systems (AFS) conventions.MEPSEAS project is run by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It  is supporting Viet Nam in its work to apply two IMO treaties aimed at protecting the marine environment.Participants are key personnel involved in developing national policies and drafting national regulation. They are being trained on developing the legal, policy and institutional framework…

15 May 2019

Yang Ming Establishes Indonesia Subsidiary

Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. will form a new subsidiary with partners in Jakarta Indonesia named PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia Today (16th May 2019).PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia will have branch offices at Surabaya, Panjang, and Palembang. The company has nominated Benson Chou as President Director for the first term."Prompted by the rapid economic growth in Southeast Asia, global carriers begin to strengthen their regional services to meet the growing market demand. Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia has the largest economy," a press release explained.Given its strategic location and great potential volume growth…

11 Apr 2019

Petronas Expands LNG Supply

Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) said that it is well-positioned to meet rising LNG demand and expands its flexible and innovative LNG solutions for existing and new markets."With its growing portfolio of LNG supply sources in Malaysia, Australia, Egypt and soon in Canada, Petronas is well-positioned to provide clean energy through its flexible and innovative LNG solutions to existing and new demand markets, as well as to emerging trading hubs," said a press statement from the fully integrated oil and gas company.Petronas President and Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said: “Asia…

09 Apr 2019

Shell Marine Launches New Lubricant

Shell Marine has introduced a new two-stroke engine cylinder oil specifically for use with engines running on 0.5% sulphur content very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) ahead of the IMO sulphur cap 2020.With a Base Number of 40, Shell Alexia 40 has been developed to optimise equipment performance and condition as ship owners and charterers prepare for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) 0.50% global sulphur limit for marine fuels in 2020.Shell Marine expects most of the world’s shipping fleet will aim to comply with IMO 2020 by switching to fuels with a sulphur content of 0.5% and below.“Shell Marine can help ship owners and charterers be prepared as the world moves to a low emissions future.

31 May 2019

IMO Training on Healthy Seas in SE Asia

Seven developing countries -Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippine, Thailand and Vietnam - in South-East Asia has received training to help implement key IMO marine environment protection treaties at a workshop in Singapore (28-30 May).Under the Marine Environment Protection for Southeast Asia Seas (MEPSEAS) Project project, launched last year, participants are gaining the skills to train others in their countries on how to apply IMO measures to protect seas in the region.Through the MEPSEAS Project, IMO is helping to give this unique region the protection it needs.The workshop is focusing on regulations in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)…

24 Apr 2019

World Navies Report: Malaysia

The Royal Malaysian Navy frigate KD Lekiu (FFG 30) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in preparation for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jimmie Crockett)

Navies operate on a spectrum between deterrence and defense, to include offensive operation, support of foreign policy, and power projection to civil affair and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Many have constabulary responsibilities, and it could be argued that, with the exception of the largest navies, most are more like a coast guard than a military force in their normal responsibilities.Every Navy is different. Yes, they all share similar challenges of acquisition…