Key Issues
Important maritime and shipping issues.

Taiwan withdraws Nanshi Creek development after public outcry
In order to relieve the problem of water shortages, the Water Resources Agency of Taiwan proposed a scheme of “cross-regional water resource dispatch”, which includes


Ambulance chasing plagues Filipino seafarers

Singapore builds momentum in 2022 for future maritime growth

Unlikely rival to Strait of Singapore
By Dr. Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli, associate professor, Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia; research associate, Asian Institute of International Affairs and Diplomacy

Malaysia’s maritime sector needs to be more efficient, resilient and green
By Dr. Izyan Munirah Mohd Zaideen, senior lecturer at Faculty of Maritime Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; and Captain Mohd Faizal Ramli, EHS Marine Specialist in oil and

Tackling the Long-Standing Problem of Robberies in SG Strait
The Singapore Strait is among the busiest commercial routes in the world. It is a 19-kilometre wide and 113-kilometre-long strait located south of Singapore, between

North Korea ships engage in nationality laundering, says South Korea
A North Korea-flagged ship, Wol Bong San, previously accused of illegal transshipment, was spotted near the Busan Port and the authority identified nine GPS signals

Reinstated management courses not a panacea to risk of European ban, says Filipino seafarers
After so much debate, the controversial Management Level Courses (MLC) for seafarers in the Philippines has been reinstated. Filipino seafarers and advocates of seafarers’ rights are

For 15 years, Philippines remains one of most deadly countries for journalists
Persecution and killings of journalist.

Indonesia faces rising motor vehicle theft in midst of economic difficulty
Rounding out the year is an increase in motor vehicle theft in Surabaya City. According to the Surabaya Police, in September and October alone, there

Political will needed to develop Malaysia’s marine renewable energy
For a sustainable future.

The Philippines scrambles to prepare for upcoming EU seafarer audit
The possibility of Filipino seafarers losing their certification in the coming year because of poor compliance with international training standards is causing panic among various

Indonesian fishermen celebrate new beginning with Festival of Offerings
There is a tradition, known as Larung Sesaji, in the Fisherman’s Village in Cilincing, North Jakarta, to celebrate gratitude and give thanks to the sea

The Dark Side of the Maritime Industry: Tales of Corruption
The maritime industry is no stranger to tales of corruption. From illegal fishing, human trafficking, or pollution to tales of

Indonesia cleans up corruption at ports
Indonesia’s state-owned port operator Pelindo wants to weed out criminal activities and corruption. Arif Suhartono, president director, has given clear

Indonesian police face loss of trust crisis
From exposé on social media, hashtag #SatuHariSatuOknum on Twitter, WhatsApp and others, there were negative stories about the police: brutality,

High-level Indonesian officials suspected of financial aid corruption
Bambang Eko Wahyudi, Danang Praptoko, Heri Soesanto, Tomie Herawanto, Dwi Rahayu, Suharsono, Siti Rochana, Ihwan, Heru Sukresna, Diah Ayu Kusuma,
In Pictures: Photo stories
Unsung heroes of Navotas Fish Market
Seafarer Avenue: Empty street, broken dreams
A Hard Life at the Port
We stand united against corruption.

Fraud is biggest threat to cargo losses


U.S. Navy protects freedom of navigation in South China Sea
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) began operating in the South China Sea Jan. 12 for the first time during the group’s 2022-2023 deployment. While

Singapore, U.S. in joint maritime exercise
Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
The Problem.
Over 90 percent of the global trade is carried across ocean. However, the maritime industry is also prone to rampant corruption.

Red flags abound in China’s troubled economy
With the unplanned and abrupt lifting of international travel restriction, the Chinese Communist Party is exposing the world to another wave of Covid infection.

Russia crushes dissent to Ukraine invasion
The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked the start of a new, all-out drive to eradicate public dissent in Russia, Human Rights Watch said January

Russian invasion causes widespread suffering for Ukrainian civilians
Russia’s war in Ukraine has wrought a devastating toll on civilians and shattered civilian life in much of the country, Human Rights Watch said January

UN Security Council censures Myanmar junta for crimes against humanity
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on December 21, 2022, denouncing the Myanmar military’s rights violations since the February 1, 2021 coup, Human

Polluting shipbreaking practices threaten Ghanian shores
In light of the recent infrastructure developments taking place at its main ports of Tema and Takoradi, Ghana is aiming to become the main integrated

UN calls for greater transparency, accountability from Indonesian businesses at B20 Summit
At the B20 Summit, the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), an initiative advocating for companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with

Indonesia launches ESG framework for green, sustainable investment
As part of a series of initiatives during Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, on November 12 in Bali, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, launched the

Five tips to help employees tackle mental health issues
Blue Monday, which falls on 16 January this year, is often recognized as the most depressing day of the year

Supply chains move closer to home amid global uncertainty, according to new survey
New research has revealed a major shift in globalization, as companies rush to move manufacturing closer to home to protect