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The Maritime Industry Authority and Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development recently renewed their partnership which aims for a safer, cleaner, and efficient maritime transport system and services through science and technology
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Both parties renewed for the second time their partnership through the signing of a MOA for the Science and Technology for Maritime Transport Applications
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A number of projects in various stages are being undertaken as part of the maritime transport S&T roadmap under the STMTA
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) recently renewed their partnership which aims for a safer, cleaner, and efficient maritime transport system and services through science and technology (S&T).
MARINA and DOST-PCIEERD renewed for the second time their partnership through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Science and Technology for Maritime Transport Applications (STMTA) on February 29. The first MOA was signed in 2017 and was renewed in 2021.
The MSTMA is envisioned to ensure the country’s maritime transport to flourish through S&T activities and innovations on alternative fuels and energy efficient water, transportation technologies, renewable energy, modernization of merchant fleet, and intelligent transport systems.
“Emerging technologies will continue to play a major role for the maritime sector to pursue its path towards safer, more sustainable, and resilient future,” MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said in a speech during the recent Maritime Science and Technology Forum.
“Over the past years, the collaboration between the Maritime Industry Authority and the DOST-PCIEERD has been a great help in devising new technologies in the maritime industry, particularly in maritime safety and marine environment protection, including shipbuilding and ship repair, as well as digitalization,” Malaluan added.
Malaluan said the initiatives and projects under the STMTA are also in line and supports various programs under MARINA’s updated Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028.
In a presentation during the same forum, DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico Pairingit said a number of projects in various stages are being undertaken as part of the maritime transport S&T roadmap under the STMTA.
Some of these projects include the following:
- Development of a local automatic identification system (AIS) for ship tracking and monitoring – Transponder for boats or vessels that automatically receive information broadcast by other AIS-equipped vessels and base stations for collision avoidance, real-time vessel monitoring and control, search and rescue, accident investigation, and report generation. AIS devices have already been installed in rescue boats in different municipalities in Quezon and Batangas.
- Port capacity analysis and route optimization for local maritime administration (PAROLA) – Objective is to identify berthing capacities of local ports and extending the route optimization and analysis to a network-wide scope. Current features of PAROLA can already be used by the Cebu Port Authority, which co-developed the system, for use in Cebu ports.
- Maritime Transportation Information System (MARIS) – Modular software for effective route capacity measurement as part of MARINA’s modernization plan for the Philippine maritime industry. It aims to address the lack of data-oriented framework to understand and forecast maritime traffic in the Philippines. It is set to be launched in the first quarter of this year.
- Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software (MEDIANS) – A system that will collect necessary environmental parameters and quickly estimate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the operating fleet based on transportation activity.
- Ship Ballast Water and Biofouling Treatment Systems for Marine Vessels (SAILS) Program – Includes two already completed programs: establishing baseline information of port ecological data based on International Maritime Organization standards, and developing a prototype ballast water management system.
- Preliminary technology verification of the prototype hybrid trimaran passenger and cargo vessel using multiple engines and alternative renewable energy system using ocean wave energy – Currently testing the performance of the fabricated waterjet propulsion system while expected sea trials are scheduled in April 2024.
- Safe, Efficient, and Sustainable Solar-Assisted Plug-in Electric Boat (SESSY E-Boat) – electric boat developed as a safe, efficient, and sustainable solar-assisted plug-in electric boat that could be utilized for island tourism and passenger transport.
Other ongoing projects include the following:
- prototype electric boat for inland waterways to address urban congestion
- development of hybrid marine-air vehicle to satisfy various rapid and efficient inter-island transport needs in the Philippines
- design and development of marine autonomous surface ship
- alternative voyage routing software for local navigation (ALON)
- pilot and demonstration of localized vessel tracking system for marine protected areas
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Moving forward, Paringit said other points of collaboration include, among others, the development of a Philippine maritime electronic library, establishment of a maritime statistic/data center facility, maritime spatial planning mechanism for maritime safety, and research and development for the mitigation of impacts, disaster, and disruptive technologies.
