Singapore Court Fines Unlicensed Bunker Craft Operator
New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd was convicted in court under regulation 64(b) of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations and was fined a total of $81,000.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) brought charges against New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd for providing services in the port of Singapore without a bunker craft operator licence between 3 January 2015 and 28 March 2015.
New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd was also found to have used the bunker craft operator licence that was issued to Seaquest Tanker Pte Ltd for providing services in the port.
Seaquest Tanker’s bunker craft operator licence was revoked by MPA last year on 26 April 2016 for the company’s involvement with New Ocean Maritime. Investigations showed that its actions had breached the terms and conditions of the licence.
As the world’s largest bunkering port, Singapore seeks to maintain high bunkering standards, covering documentation, equipment standards and verification processes for bunkering operations.
To safeguard Singapore’s reputation as a trusted and reliable bunkering hub, all bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators operating in the port of Singapore are required to be licensed by MPA.
MPA adopts a zero tolerance approach towards bunkering malpractices and will not hesitate to take action against any unlicensed entity operating in the port of Singapore.
