Business

SMW 2022: Event officially opens with ‘Transformation for Growth’ theme

Event brings together over 10,000 delegates and experts to discuss issues around key pillars of: Innovation, Sustainability, Maritime Services, and Talent.

Published

4 years ago

April 4, 2022

Admin

The 16th edition of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2022 held from 4 to 8 April in hybrid format at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre was opened on Monday by Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, Singapore, Mr S Iswaran.

Themed “Transformation for Growth”, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) organised event brings together over 10,000 delegates and distinguished experts globally from various sectors of the maritime industry to discuss pertinent issues centred around four key maritime pillars: Innovation, Sustainability, Maritime Services, and Talent.

During his speech at the Opening Ceremony, Minister Iswaran reflected on the disruptions the maritime sector had to face as a result of the pandemic and ongoing geopolitical developments, and chartered the way forward for the industry.

He said: “The maritime sector plays a critical role in international trade and the global economy. To ensure its reliability, resilience and readiness for the future, the maritime industry must transform, and embody the essential elements of continuous innovation, boundaryless collaboration and strong talent development. This endeavour requires partnership across nations and between the public and private sectors, for which the Singapore Maritime Week can serve as a valuable platform.”

On the decarbonisation agenda, Minister Iswaran said that Singapore is contributing at both the multilateral level and plurilateral level as a global maritime hub, and announced that Singapore will join the Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors together with 22 other Signatory States. The Clydebank Declaration aims to establish green shipping corridors between ports by deploying zero-emission vessel technologies on voyages, or alternative fuel and charging infrastructure in ports.

Minister Iswaran also announced the establishment of a Maritime International Advisory Panel (IAP) by the Ministry of Transport and MPA to seek global perspectives on emerging trends and critical developments that will shape the maritime industry. Chaired by Minister Iswaran, the IAP comprises 12 cross-sector global business leaders who will hold the inaugural meeting at SMW 2022.

Singapore Maritime Lecture and SMW Leaders’ Perspective

The Opening Ceremony was followed by the return of the highly-anticipated Singapore Maritime Lecture and SMW Leaders’ Perspective, where industry experts gathered to examine the key challenges facing the industry, discuss opportunities for growth and explore pathways to maritime sustainability.

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Singapore, Mr Heng Swee Keat, highlighted transformative opportunities and shared how the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map (ITM) refresh will enable Singapore to sharpen its response to global trends impacting the maritime sector during his Keynote Address at the Singapore Maritime Lecture.

Moderated by Mr Rashpal Bhatti, Vice President, Maritime Supply Chain and Excellence, BHP, the SMW Leaders Perspective’s panellist of maritime leaders explored future opportunities for the maritime industry, and how transformation in sustainability, finance and talent will reshape the maritime ecosystem.

The panellists include Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group, Mr Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express, Mr Stephen Fewster, Global Head of Shipping Finance at ING, and Ms Aw Kah Peng, Chairman of Shell Singapore.

Singapore Maritime Lecture and SMW Leaders Perspective

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 4 April, 2022

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026