Typhoon Leaves Philippines in Shambles
At least 10,000 people are feared dead after Typhoon Haiyan bombarded the Philippines last Friday, November 8, with death toll figures expected to continue rising. The storm, recorded as one of the most powerful in history to hit land, produced wind gusts of more than 200 miles per hour, 15-meter waves and seven-meter storm surges, and has destroyed roughly 70-80% of structures in its path, according to estimations by the United Nations. Philippines president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has declared the nation in a state of national calamity.
New Philippine Port Facility Inaugurated
A new $200-million port facility in Manila inaugurated by President Benigno S. The President poured champagne on the marker of Berth 6 of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) to signal its formal opening. The port facility, operated by International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI), has increased annual capacity of 1.9 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 2.5 million TEUs. The berth, whose construction started two years ago, can now accommodate up to seven ships at one time. The President did not deliver any speech during the event and instead was given a briefing about the new port terminal by ICTSI officials led by its chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. who sited a 6.4 percent economic expansion in the first quarter of the year.
Philippine, British Governments Announce Support for SaveOurSeafarers
Seafarers’ organisations, shipping companies together with business leaders and the biggest ever grouping of shipping industry associations, which have joined forces to campaign against Somali piracy, have received a welcome boost from the British and Philippine Governments confirming their support for the global SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign. In the UK, correspondence between members of the SOS campaign and the British MP Henry Billingham, Minister for Africa, the UN, Overseas Territories and Conflict Issues…
