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Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation News

19 Nov 2018

Jurong Port Wins Green Port Certificate

Singapore-headquartered Jurong Port (JP) has been awarded the Green Port Certificate, a program under the Green Port Award System (GPAS) developed by the APEC Port Services Network (APSN)A press note from the international multipurpose port providing integrated solutions for the most complex of logistics operations said that the GPAS program is a green evaluation system for ports in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region which assesses initiatives that improve environmental sustainability within the APEC port industry.GPAS was launched in 2016 with the objective of promoting sustainable development in port operations and…

07 Jun 2018

Uruguay Conducts Maritime Security Drills

Drills and exercises to test maritime security knowledge and update skills are under way during a national workshop in Montevideo, Uruguay (5 to 8 June). The National Workshop on International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) Drills and Exercises has been designed to strengthen the technical capability of Designated Authority officials, port security officials and managers with respect to enhancing maritime security through the process of conducting drills and exercises in accordance with the ISPS Code and the relevant IMO guidance, by using the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Drills and Exercises Manual. The workshop was organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the Global programme for the enhancement of maritime security…

16 Mar 2018

Role-Playing to Design Security Drills

A four-day workshop on how to best design and conduct drills and maritime security exercises, has been held in Kingston, Jamaica (13-16 March), said a press release from International Maritime Organization (IMO). The aim of the event was to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to plan, conduct and assess security drills and exercises in their port facilities. The workshop also included live role-playing sessions with various communication equipment. This helps port facility security officers, managers and designated authority officials to assess the effectiveness of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) which is designed to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.

23 Nov 2015

Philippines Warns China: World is Watching You

China came under renewed criticism over its rising profile in the South China Sea at Asia-Pacific summit when Philippines  President Benigno Aquino III  warned China that “the world is watching” you, reports Reuters. Whether China would behave as a responsible power in the simmering standoff over maritime territory, is the question in this context. "The world is watching and expects no less from a responsible global leader," Aquino said. "We are hopeful that China would honour its word and respect the rule of law," Aquino said. His comment referred specifically to a dispute with China over maritime territory, which Manila is bringing before an international court.

22 Nov 2015

Obama Urges Halt to Artificial Islands in S.China Sea

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that countries should stop building artificial islands and militarising their claims in the disputed South China Sea. "For the sake of regional stability the claimants should halt reclamation, construction and militarisation of disputed areas," Obama told a meeting between the United States and leaders of the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). China insists it has undisputed sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a claim that overlaps with four ASEAN countries. China has been transforming reefs in the Spratly archipelago into artificial islands and has built airfields and other facililties on them.

20 Nov 2015

Manila asks Japan for South China Sea Patrol Boats

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may consider a request from the Philippines for large coastguard ships to patrol the disputed South China Sea, after the two allies reached a deal on defence equipment and technology. China has overlapping claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines is the Southeast Asian nation most at odds with China over the South China Sea. Tokyo has no claims in the waterway, but worries about China's growing military reach into sea lanes through which much of Japan's ship-borne trade passes.

17 Nov 2015

China: "Great Restraint" in South China Sea

China has shown "great restraint" in the South China Sea by not seizing islands occupied by other countries even though it could have, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday ahead of two regional summits where the disputed waterway is likely to be a hot topic. Beijing has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Reclamation work and the building of three airfields and other facilities on some of China's artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago have alarmed the region and raised concern in Washington that China is extending its military reach deep into maritime Southeast Asia.

10 Nov 2015

US Expects South China Sea Issue to Come up at APEC

The South China Sea issue is likely to come up on the sidelines of the APEC summit if it is not on the formal agenda, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday.   The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is scheduled for Nov. 17-19 in Manila. China has said it is not aware of any plan to discuss the issue at the leaders' summit, a Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday.     (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and David Alexander; Editing by Eric Beech)

10 Nov 2015

China Says Unaware of Plan to Discuss Sea Dispute at APEC

China is not aware of any plan to discuss the disputed South China Sea at an Asia Pacific leaders' summit next week, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday, amid tensions between China and the Philippines over the waters. For its part, the Philippines said it would not raise the issue at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Manila from Nov. 17 to 19. Chinese President Xi Jinping is to attend the meeting of APEC, which includes the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Canada and accounts for 57 percent of global production and 46.5 percent of world trade. "Everyone knows that APEC is primarily about discussing trade and financial cooperation in the Asia Pacific…

14 Sep 2015

Philippines: South China Sea not on APEC Agenda

Energy ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group will discuss climate change and business opportunities at a meeting in the Philippines next month but not the South China Sea. China claims most of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims. The Philippines has filed a case with an international arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea but China has rejected the proceeding and says disputes must be handled bilaterally. China is a member of APEC.

29 Oct 2014

Korean Register to Drive LNG Fuelled Shipping

Korean Register (KR) will work alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat (APEC) to promote the use of LNG fuelled ships in the APEC region. APEC has awarded a contract to KR to further the understanding of the current state and future potential for LNG fuelled vessels to serve the region’s maritime trade requirements. Work will also include a program to share knowledge and best practice across the APEC region with the aim of promoting this new technology. At the seventh APEC Transportation Ministerial meeting held in 2011, the group confirmed their commitment to “an action agenda to move APEC towards an energy efficient…

25 Jul 2014

USCG Change of Command in Galveston

USCG photo by Andrew Kendrick

A Coast Guard lieutenant commander and graduate of Hastings High School in Houston, took command of Maritime Safety and Security Team Galveston during a ceremony in Galveston Thursday. Lt. Cmdr. Steve Morris and his wife are both from Houston and he enlisted in the Coast Guard through the recruiting station here. "When it came time last year for me to make known the units that I desired, there's no doubt that MSST Galveston rose right at the top of the list," said Morris. Prior to taking command of MSST Galveston…

23 Jul 2014

USCG Galveston Unit Change of Command

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lisa Ferdinando

A change-of-command ceremony will be held Thursday morning, July 24, to see a Coast Guard lieutenant commander and graduate of Houston's Alief Hastings High School, Lt. Cmdr. Steve Morris, take command of Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Galveston, assuming the responsibilities of commanding officer from Lt. Cmdr. Chad Holm. The MSST is comprised of a specialized team who provide security and law enforcement capabilities throughout the country. Under Holm's command, MSST…

08 Jul 2014

Negotiations on WTO Environmental Goods Agreement

Fourteen WTO members launched plurilateral negotiations for an Environmental Goods Agreement on 8 July 2014 at the WTO. These members said the talks will promote green growth and sustainable development while providing impetus for the conclusion of the Doha Round. The participants said the talks are open to any WTO member and that the results will be applied in accordance with the most-favoured nation principle, under which WTO members should treat their trading partners in a non-discriminatory manner. Taking part are Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong China, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United States, which make up 86 per cent of global environmental goods trade.

18 May 2014

More Than 3,000 Chinese Evacuated From Vietnam After Violence

More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Vietnam, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday, following deadly rioting that stemmed from an outpouring of rage over Chinese oil drilling in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The violence was triggered by China's positioning of a $1 billion oil rig in a part of the South China Sea claimed by Hanoi, a move described by the United States as provocative. It is the worst breakdown in ties between the two Communist neighbours since a short border war in 1979. The evacuation followed days of clashes between Vietnamese rioters and Chinese workers. Crowds of thousands massed as rioters turned against Chinese workers and Chinese-owned businesses…

02 Apr 2012

Marine Components Remanufacturing Taking Off

In its continuing efforts to promote the benefits of remanufacturing, Caterpillar Inc.hosted representatives from several Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies at its newest Cat Reman® facility in Singapore. The tour was part of a meeting of APEC's Market Access Group where industry and government experts from all 21 APEC economies learned more about how remanufactured goods are returned from end-of-life products to same-as-new specifications. For customers, the availability of remanufactured goods means more uptime for their products, which translates into significant production and financial benefits. In the case of Solar turbine engines…

13 Sep 2011

Asia-Pacific Nations Pledge Cooperation on Clean, Energy-Efficient Transportation

 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

Transportation, Energy Ministers from Asia-Pacific Nations Pledge Cooperation on Cleaner, More Energy-Efficient Transportation. Transportation and energy ministers from 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region today agreed to continue progress on initiatives to make transportation in the region cleaner and more energy-efficient, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today. The announcement came during the first-ever joint Transportation and Energy Ministerial Conference held by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)…

15 Jun 2011

ADM Papp Testifies on U.S. Coast Guard Security Capabilities

ADM Robert J. Subcommittee. capabilities. For more than 220 years, the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded the nation’s maritime interests and natural resources on our rivers and ports, in the coastal regions, on the high seas, and around the world. The Coast Guard saves those in peril and protects the nation’s maritime border, marine transportation system, natural resources, and the environment. Coast Guard men and women – active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliarists alike – deliver premier service to the public. military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, assets, geographic diversity, and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence in the inland waters, ports, coastal regions, and far offshore areas of operations.

08 Sep 2003

Asian Nations Address Maritime Security

Realizing that their countries’ economic health and well being depend largely on their ability to provide safe and secure shipping operations – defending against everything from terrorism to pirates to smugglers – twenty-one nations with Pacific Ocean ports recently met to discuss the current status and future prospects of maritime security. The meeting was held for two days in Manila, Reuters reported, for members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. While leaders within the organization grapple with the increasing cost and potential slowdown of shipping services to accommodate new levels of security, they concluded that the price of not ensuring safe shipments was much higher. "Failure to act on this will put APEC economies at great risk," one official reportedly said.

07 Mar 2001

Report: Sailors Treated Like Slaves

Tens of thousands of sailors on commercial ships are being treated like slaves and live in fear of being thrown overboard if they complain about exploitation and mistreatment, according a report by an independent industry body. The report “Ships, Slaves and Competition” found that on 10 to 15 percent of vessels, sailors from developing countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia were being subjected to poor safety conditions, excessive hours, unpaid wages, starvation diets, rapes and beatings. The report said crews told stories of sailors disappearing after complaining to officers and of being blacklisted if they sought union help to collect unpaid wages.

24 Nov 2004

APEC Efforts to Secure International Shipping and Ports

The White House issued a Fact Sheet discussing initiatives agreed to by representatives attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Chile. Among other things, the leaders agreed to secure international shipping and ports by working toward implementation of the IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. President Bush and six other leaders launched the ISPS Code Implementation Assistance Program to assist fellow APEC members in complying with the ISPS Code through technical assistance and grants. Source: HK Law

07 Jul 2006

APL Outlines Supply Chain Security Plan

On July 7, a supply chain security expert from global container carrier APL outlined practical steps that would help achieve an improvement in the safety of international trade at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Symposium. 5. Development of long-term security technology solutions through the collaboration of supply chain stakeholders. According to Agron, the public sector’s primary responsibility was to protect its citizens. However, the private sector owns and operates much of the supply chain infrastructure that could fall prey to terrorist attack. Agron pointed out that a balance must be struck between the need to secure the supply chain without bringing global trade to a halt.

24 Apr 2001

Morris Challenges Owners To Fight Slave Ships

A former Australian transport minister challenged oil tanker owners, who were meeting in Sydney on Tuesday, to join him in the fight against "slave-ships", which still thrive in the world's shipping trades. At the end of a vigorous debate on corrosion in tankers, Peter Morris challenged the industry to take more interest in its human resources. "You've all been worrying about the rates of corrosion of metal, but what about the corrosion of lives?" he asked. "I think you and I are going to be working very closely in the future," he told Intertanko chairman Westye Hoegh. Morris, transport minister from 1983 to 1987 in Bob Hawke's Labor government…