The US National strategy for maritime security 2005 and its geopolitical implications on Malaysia

This article is written on the assumption that Malaysia---a major littoral state to the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea---may experience a delicate diplomatic situation resulting from the preemptive character of the US National Strategy for Maritime Security 2005---NSMS 2005---which could motivate rivalry, provoke conflict, and induce war in Southeast Asia. The assumption is such because the US is now perceived to be using NSMS 2005 as its latest geopolitical tool to contain China, to safeguard its energy security geopolitics, and in anticipation of maritime-based resource war in the region. The crux of this article, therefore, is based on the question how will Malaysia maintain its balanced relations toward the US and China in the context of this geopolitical framework. As such, this article attempts to analyze the preemptive character of NSMS 2005, to ascertain the China Factor contained in it, and to examine the impacts and implications of this maritime strategy on Malaysia’s future relations with the US and China. This analysis hopes to enlighten the Malaysian government on the geopolitical consequences of NSMS 2005 and to facilitate the Malaysian government with the appropriate insights on how to mitigate these consequences through foreign policy initiatives at the national, bilateral, and multilateral levels

Asian cities in the global maritime network since the late nineteenth century

Asian cities have long concentrated a significant share of world maritime trade and the current situation in the early XXIth century is by no means new. This research proposes an empirical analysis of global maritime flows with a particular focus on Asian cities between 1890 and 2008, based on available information on merchant vessel movements obtained from Lloyd's List. The research maps and compares noticeable traffic shifts among Asian port cities as well as their individual port growth trajectories.Les villes d'Asie concentrent depuis longtemps une part non négligeable du commerce maritime mondial, et la situation à l'aube du XXIème siècle n'a en effet rien de très nouveau. Cette recherche fournit une analyse empirique des flux maritimes mondiaux de 1890 à 2008 à partir des archives de Lloyd's List sur les mouvements de navires. Les résultats principaux permettent de visualiser l'évolution des trafics entre villes asiatiques et leurs trajectoires portuaires individuelles

Economic importance of the Belgian ports: Flemish maritime ports, Liège port complex and the port of Brussels – Report 2009

This paper is an annual publication issued by the Microeconomic Analysis service of the National Bank of Belgium. The Flemish maritime ports (Antwerp, Ghent, Oostende, Zeebrugge), the Autonomous Port of Liège and the port of Brussels play a major role in their respective regional economies and in the Belgian economy, not only in terms of industrial activity but also as intermodal centres facilitating the commodity flow. This update paper provides an extensive overview of the economic importance and development of the Flemish maritime ports, the Liège port complex and the port of Brussels in the period 2004 - 2009, with an emphasis on 2009. Focusing on the three major variables of value added, employment and investment, the report also provides some information about social balance and the financial situation in these ports as a whole. These observations are linked to a more general context, along with a few cargo statistics. Annual accounts data from the Central Balance Sheet Office were used for the calculation of direct effects, the study of financial ratios and the analysis of the social balance sheet. The indirect effects of the activities concerned were estimated in terms of value added and employment, on the basis of data from the National Accounts Institute. In terms of maritime cargo traffic, the downturn recorded during the last quarter of 2008 continued throughout 2009. Direct value added declined in all the ports in Flanders. Maritime branches as a whole contracted. Only the value added of the maritime branches in the port of Ostend remained stable. The non-maritime branches as a whole saw a contraction in all the Flemish ports. It was the port of Antwerp that suffered the most from the drop in the value added. Its maritime branches shrank by nearly one third. While the non-maritime branches were slightly down. The port of Ghent recorded a bigger decrease in the non-maritime branches. Conversely, the value added in the port of Zeebrugge fell more sharply in the maritime branches. Direct employment in the ports of Flanders as a whole declined during the year 2009. Except in Ghent, direct employment in the maritime branches fell in all the Flemish ports. Similarly, only one of them, the port of Ostend, recorded a rise in employment in the non-maritime branches. Thanks to this, it has been the only Flemish port to register direct employment growth. Investment decreased in all the ports in Flanders. The decline in investment was between one-sixth and one-fifth in the ports of Ghent, Antwerp and Zeebrugge. While Ostend recorded a cut of more than one third in its investment levels in 2009. The volume of cargo handled in the port of Liège decreased strongly in 2009. Direct value added and employment registered a significant decline. Maritime and non-maritime branches were down for both value added and employment. Thanks to the "other services" branch of activity, investment rose steadily. The volume of cargo handled at the port of Brussels declined in 2009. Value added in this port remained steady. But employment contracted slightly. After the growth seen in 2008, investment was down by more than a quarter. This report provides a comprehensive account of these issues, giving details for each economic sector, although the comments are confined to the main changes that occurred in 2009.branch survey, maritime cluster, subcontracting, indirect effects, transport intermodality, public investments

The impact of the revised STCW Convention on Chinese higher maritime education and training institutions

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) is regarded as the most important instrument ever established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since it deals with the human element to which more than 80% maritime casualties are attributable. This dissertation examines the main reasons for revising STCW’78 and the major features of the revised Convention. This revised Convention overcomes the deficiencies of the existing Convention. It is believed that it will bring about a greater impact on maritime administrations, shipping companies and maritime education and training (MET) institutions in particular. It is universally recognized that MET institutions play the most important role in providing qualified seafarers. In order to identify the existing problems and weaknesses in the Chinese MET system, an analysis is made. This analysis covers Chinese national legislation regarding MET, the roles and background of higher MET institutions, and the country\u27s advanced MET system including the main scheme, the status of instructors and teaching methods, examination and assessment practices. A comparison is also made between the requirements of the revised Convention and the present situation in Chinese higher MET regarding policies, cunicula, instructors, teaching methods, quality evaluations, etc. Based on the situation analysis, the comparison with the revised Convention and the identification of problem areas in Chinese higher MET, proposals and recommendations are made for the effective implementation of the revised STCW Conventio

Proposals for further development and improvevment of maritime safety education and training in China

According to the international and national regulations and requirements on safety at sea, the maritime institutions and training centers in China have held and offered certain specific education and training courses for seafarers and the students of the maritime institutions in the field of maritime safety. On the basis of the present situation for maritime safety education and training in China and the practical maritime safety training courses conducted in Chinese maritime institutions and training centers, in this dissertation, the author briefly introduces some information about the maritime institutions and training centers in China. Next he describes the teaching and training programs of the relevant courses and the implementation and development of these courses, then evaluates the progress achieved and the problems existing in the field of Chinese maritime safety education and training by the analysis and comparison of the Chinese MSET with the other maritime countries. Finally he puts forward some proposals and suggestions for further development and the improvement of the maritime safety education and training in China with an emphasis on nautical aspects. To meet future requirements and improve the safety of the international and Chinese shipping industry, the author also discusses the importance and imperative necessity of maritime safety education and training, and points out that this is very urgent not only for China, but also for all maritime countries in the world

Implementation of a Maritime Disaster Management System in the Dominican Republic - Focused on Search and Rescue -

이 논문은 해양사고관리체계에 대하여 정의하고 각 국의 관리시스템을 비교 분석하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 도미니카공화국의 해양사고관리체계 수립에 필요한 법적, 조직적 측면에서 필요한 사항을 정리하여 적용할 수 있도록 기술하였다|This paper attempts to describe maritime management system concepts and essential elements with special focus on maritime disasters related to sear and rescue and the response system, which will serve to the Dominican Republic to develop it's own maritime response system to effectively react and properly assist to this type of maritime emergencies. From the beginning and backgrounds on maritime disasters and the consequent conventions on maritime safety to the establishment of national response systems. This paper contains details on maritime disaster, emergency management and response systems from selected countries as well as the current situation of the Dominican Republic on this matter and how the mentioned systems can serve as the first steps for developing an adequate maritime disaster management system focused on search and rescue.CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background and objectives 1 1.1.1 Background 1 1.1.2 Objectives 5 1.2 Scope and structure 6 1.3 Research methodology 6 CHAPTER II: FUNDAMENTAL THEORY OF MARITIME DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 7 2.1 General theory on maritime disaster 7 2.1.1 Definitions 7 2.1.2 Concept of maritime disaster 9 2.1.3 The nature, types and causes of maritime disasters 9 2.1.4 Ships losses and accidents 11 2.1.5 Types of maritime accidents 14 2.1.6 Examples of maritime accidents 19 2.1.7 Large scale accidents 21 2.2 Maritime disaster management system 24 2.2.1 Concept 24 2.2.2 Purpose 25 2.2.3 Essential elements 28 2.3 Milestones in maritime safety 32 CHAPTER III: THE CURRENT STATUS AND PROBLEMS OF MARITIME DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 37 3.1 International treaties 37 3.2 Maritime Disaster Management System in the Dominican Republic 38 3.2.1 Legal system 38 3.2.2 Competent authorities 39 3.2.3 Current situation and problems 47 3.3 Summary and issues to be solved 49 CHAPTER IV: MARITIME DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES 51 4.1 The United States of America 51 4.1.1 Homeland Security Act 51 4.1.2 Federal Emergency Management Agency 52 4.1.3 National Response Framework 53 4.1.4 Incident Command System 55 4.1.5 National Search and Rescue Plan for the United States 63 4.1.6 United States Coast Guard 67 4.2 The United Kingdom 69 4.2.1 Civil Contingencies Act 69 4.2.2 Civil Contingencies Committee 70 4.2.3 The UK emergency response and recovery 72 4.2.4 Merchant Shipping Act 1995 74 4.2.5 SAR framework for the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 75 4.2.6 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 78 4.3 Republic of Korea 83 4.3.1 Framework act on management of disasters and safety 83 4.3.2 Rescue and aid at sea and in the river Act 86 4.3.3 Ministry of Public Safety and Security 88 4.3.4 Korea Coast Guard 91 4.4 Comparative analysis of selected countries and its implications 93 CHAPTER V: SUGGESTION OF MARITIME DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 99 5.1 Legislative suggestion 99 5.2 Organizational suggestion 102 5.3 Operational suggestion 104 5.4 Multi-agency cooperation in the Dominican Republic 107 CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSION 110 6.1 Concluding marks 110 6.2 Recommendations 111 BIBLIOGRAPHY 114 ANNEX I 116 ANNEX II 126Maste

GLOBAL CONTAINER SHIPPING OPERATORS’ STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAINS

The world economic and financial crisis that seriously hit the global economy and especially its trade and transport sectors in the years 2008-2009 also affected with significant force the global maritime container transport. This strategic maritime transport subsector is regarded as a driving force of smooth development of the global logistics supply chains and the backbone accelerating globalization processes. However, since 2010 effective demand and potential supply on the global container freight market are in constant state of disequilibrium, caused to a large extend by wrong tonnage investment strategies of container operators. Lack of ability to adapt the supply side to changes occurring on the demand side of the container market has brought numerous serious financial and economic consequences which not only affected the global container shipping operators but also hit other parties involved in the logistics supply chains spread within the global logistics space created in the contemporary global economy.Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the dynamics of global maritime container market, especially its demand side which fluctuates vigorously, and assess the short and medium term strategies applied by the powerful shipping operators in terms of their multi-channel impact on the other parties of the global intermodal supply chain and the global logistics system as a whole.Methodology: The traditional method of maritime freight analysis was applied based on container freight and charter indices, such as SCFI or HFI. They reflect the amplitude of freight rate per TEU fluctuations in a certain period of time (e.g. quarter, week, etc.) which is congruent with the effective demand changes confronted with the existing potential supply. Growth of tonnage capacity, determined by the global container shipping operators’ strategies aimed for further development and better utilization of the existing transport potential of container fleet acting on the very competitive global freight market, has been assessed in terms of logistics efficiency and its effects have been estimated within the global value chain.Findings: The obtained results indicate that: 1/ global maritime container transport market is still significantly unbalanced and subject to high dynamics of demand fluctuations, and consequently freight rates, 2/ applied strategies of maritime global container operators in the operational and investment area fail to bring intended results, leading to strong capital horizontal integration in the sector of maritime container transport and vertical integration within the global logistic supply chains, 3/ the situation destabilizes the operations of global supply chains and consequently the global TSL sector, preventing forwarders and shippers from taking rational decisions on a medium and short term basis, 4/ this relatively long-standing situation (from 2010) shakes the foundations of transport and logistics order worldwide, 5/ the beneficiary of this situation on the market of maritime container transport and strategic decisions of global container operators is global economy as well as consumers of goods imported by sea in containers.Originality/value: The approach proposed by the author regarding the analysis of the effectiveness of freight market operations in the context of developed and implemented operational and investment strategies of maritime container operators with an attempt to assess the effects of such decisions within global logistic supply chains has not been the subject of research until now. The obtained initial results which require further detailed analysis, provide significant values, both theoretical (enrich the market theory) and practical (as regards taking rational decisions and effective management of global supply chain)

Containerisation in the Baltic Sea region: development, characteristics and contemporary organisation

The main focus of the paper is on the container system development in the Baltic Sea Region studying cotemporary changes and organisation, as well as explaining the main driving forces of this situation. The Baltic Sea is a transport corridor between Eastern and Western Europe. Over the last decade maritime transport in the Baltic Sea area has changed significantly. The disintegration of the Soviet Union forced Russia to start developing its own Baltic ports and terminals and to find new routes to export its oil and gas. The Baltic ports have welcomed a remarkable growth, especially in oil transportation and containerised flows. The geographical configuration of the region naturally places it away from major global shipping lines. This situation is accentuated by the organisation of maritime regular lines, centred in Northern European ports. For this reason, the regional container network is mainly made up of feeder services

Analysis Framework for Translation of Maritime Legal Documents

Maritime activity around the globe currently generates a great amount of translation work, especially from English into other languages. This paper focuses on the analysis of the translation process in maritime legal and administrative documents. The study first establishes which maritime documents are most often translated and a tool is then developed to analyse such documents in detail, based on the concept of textual genre. Such analysis would help translators to better understand these highly specialised documents and thus contribute towards improving translation of the same