Business

Singapore: Aderco and WISTA Singapore initiate charity drive for visiting seafarers stuck onboard vessels

‘WISTA Singapore will match dollar for dollar every donation received up to $3000; we will also help to pack the items for Aderco to deliver to the crew,’ the maritime association President tells Manifold Times.

Published

6 years ago

November 11, 2020

Admin

Singapore-based volunteers from fuel treatment specialist Aderco and from the Singapore chapter of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) gathered on Monday (9 November) to place the finishing touches on a mutually organised charity drive for seafarers.

The group was present at Aderco’s Singapore office to pack approximately 200 care packages which will be sent to crew still stuck onboard vessels for an extended period of time due to the pandemic when the ships visit Singapore port.

The initiative was started by Yukie Teo, Sales Support Manager at Aderco, who learned about the plight of numerous ship crew from her fleet management and bunker surveying contacts.

“I was planning to go onboard vessels to distribute company brochures for visiting vessels in September and initially came up with the idea of giving a sanitisation kit and pen as part of a care package from Aderco,” she shared with Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times.

“However, further conversation with surveyor contacts found several crew to be in extremely low morale due to extended time onboard. A discussion with my boss led to an expansion of the care package budget; we are now in its fifth iteration and plan to carry out this campaign till end of the year.

“The Singapore chapter of WISTA is now onboard and they have been a great help in this endeavour. I will like to take this opportunity to thank WISTA members and the generous contributions from the many anonymous donors. Thank you for your support!”

Magdalene Chew, President of WISTA Singapore, personally helped pack items into the care packages.

“Crew members are essential workers but are generally more overlooked than other categories of workers. As much as 300,000 seafarers are still stuck onboard ships [according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation] and many have been living on vessels for over a year,” said Chew, also a Director of AsiaLegal LLC.

“Our ExCo member Yukie told us about this initiative their company is undertaking and we are very happy to take part. We have asked for donations towards the purchase of tea, chocolate beverages and more for crew visiting Singapore port.

“WISTA Singapore will match dollar for dollar for every donation received up to $3000; we will also help to pack the items for Aderco to deliver to the crew.”

Victoria McFarlane, Assistant Claims Manager at Britannia P&I, was among WISTA members present at the packing session.

“Seafarers transport about 90% of the world’s goods and they make sure that we have everything that we need so we want to do what we can to help them as well,” she says.

“Even now, there are so many seafarers still stuck on ships unable to disembark due to various restrictions in place due to Covid. They cannot see their families and are so far from home.”

The item list for each Aderco care package include:

01 x PVC ziplock bag
03 x disposal mask
01 x 50ml gel hand sanitizer
01 x wet wipes
02 x hand sanitizer pack
04 x alcohol pad
02 x face shield
01 x packet of milo 3in1 (18 sachets)
01 x packet of milk tea 3in1 (12 sachets)
01 x packet of coffee 3in1 (35 sachets)

WISTA Singapore members present during the packing session are (left to right):

Victoria McFarlane, Assistant Claims Manager, Britannia P&I
Magdalene Chew, President of WISTA Singapore & Director of AsiaLegal LLC
Yukie Teo, Sales Support Manager at Aderco
Amber Chang, Account Manager – Advertising at Tradewinds

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 November, 2020

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026