Business

IBIA explainer: IMO’s new flashpoint documentation requirement

Suppliers will need to provide an actual measured flashpoint value on the bunker delivery note, unless the flashpoint has been measured at or above 70°C.

Published

4 years ago

June 22, 2022

Admin

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (20 June) published an explainer on IMO’s new flashpoint documentation requirement which was recently approved at MEPC 78 as part of the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI.

Suppliers will be required to include Information about flashpoint of fuel oil on the BDN under draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, in line draft amendments to SOLAS recently approved by the IMO.

The 78th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78, June 6-10) approved draft amendments to appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI, for adoption by MEPC 79.

Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI, “Information to be included in the bunker delivery note”, already requires sulphur content and density to be documented on the BDN.

The draft amendment will require either flashpoint measured in Celsius (°C) or a statement that flashpoint has been measured at or above 70°C.

What this means in practice is that suppliers will need to provide an actual measured flashpoint value on the BDN, unless the flashpoint has been measured at or above 70°C.

In other words, a statement will be adequate if the flashpoint has been measured at or above 70°C, but suppliers can also provide an actual flashpoint on the BDN for values above 70°C if they choose to do so.

Following the draft amendments to appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI are adopted by MEPC 79, the new flashpoint documentation requirement is expected to enter into force on May 1, 2024.

Prior to making the amendment to requirements for the BDN, MEPC had decided to await the outcome of the 105th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), to see what MSC agreed regarding the flashpoint data to be recorded and reported in relation to safety. MEPC would then draft corresponding draft amendments to appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI.

IBIA submitted a document to MSC 105, commenting on the draft SOLAS amendments with regard to flashpoint. IBIA explained that in practice, fuel oils are typically only tested to determine if the flashpoint is above 70°C, because that is considered to be sufficient to guarantee it is above the 60°C minimum limit in SOLAS. You can read IBIA’s paper MSC 105/5/1 on this link.

Following discussion, MSC 105 approved draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2, including a requirement for a pre-delivery declaration of conformity with regulation SOLAS II.2/4.2.1, and for the ship to receive a BDN with the flashpoint specified, or a statement that flashpoint has been measured at or above 70°C. (More information on this link)

IBIA believes this outcome from MEPC and MSC is better than the original proposals to include flashpoint as mandatory information in the BDN, regardless of the measured value. IBIA has stressed time and again that requiring specified flashpoint values above 70°C is neither necessary not practical in relation to compliance with the 60°C minimum limit for fuel oils required under SOLAS.

Photo credit: IBIA
Published: 22 June, 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

18 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

18 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

18 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