Legal

Singapore: Court orders Maersk Tankers to pay UOB USD 39 million over Winson Oil gasoil cargo

Defences of Maersk Tankers and Winson Oil had ‘overarching assertion that UOB ‘never looked to the bills of lading as security’, stated Judge.

Published

2 years ago

November 18, 2024

Admin

Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte Ltd (Maersk) on 4 November was ordered to pay UOB USD 39 million for the misdelivery of a gasoil cargo sold to Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd (Hin Leong) by Winson Oil Trading Pte Ltd (Winson).

The present case was amongst affairs stemming from the collapse of Hin Leong in 2020.

Here, UOB claimed itself as holders of certain bills of lading for gasoil cargoes carried onboard Maersk Princess in accordance with a voyage charterparty between Maersk as owners and Winson as charterers.

Maersk Princess was carrying a total shipment of 752,870 barrels (bbl) of 10ppm sulphur gasoil cargo that was on-sold by Winson to Hin Leong following a sale contract dated 12 February 2020.

UOB was interested in two, out of the four parcels, which the gasoil cargo was split into.

Specifically, the bank was claiming for Parcel ‘A’ comprising 330,000 bbl purchased by Winson from BP Singapore Pte Limited and Parcel ‘C’ comprising 330,000 bbl purchased by Winson from China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd (the Cargoes).

UOB argued Maersk discharged and delivered the Cargoes to Hin Leong without presenting the original bills of lading (OBLs) for both Parcel ‘A’ and ‘C’; as such its liability for misdelivery is allegedly settled.

“While admitting that Maersk discharged and delivered the cargo without original bills of lading having been presented, the Defendants [Maersk and Winson] have advanced a number of defences against liability for misdelivery,” stated Justice S. Mohan of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore.

“Most of them are bonded together by the overarching assertion that UOB ‘never looked to the bills of lading as security’.”

According to Justice Mohan, defendants Maersk and Winson presented several defences against UOB’s claim; they are:

Contractual Defence
Consent-Based Defences
Rights of Suit Defences
Causation Defence

“To summarise, none of the defences advanced by the Defendants have been made out. I am satisfied that UOB, as lawful holders of the OBLs, has established its claim against Maersk for breach of contract by reason of the latter having discharged and delivered the Cargo without the presentation of the OBLs,” he wrote.

“Having allowed this claim in contract, it is unnecessary for me to consider UOB’s alternative claims in conversion, bailment and negligence.

“Accordingly, I grant judgment in favour of UOB against Maersk in the sum of US$39,372,300.00, together with interest thereon at 5.33% per annum from the date of the writ to the date of judgment.”

Editor’s note: The original 104-page judgement document of Justice S. Mohan can be downloaded from the High Court of the Republic of Singapore website here.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 18 November 2024

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Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Annual general meetings will be held from 1 to 2 September for An Hui Shipping, Nan Chiau Maritime and Nan Yi Maritime to receive updates on firms’ liquidation, according to notices.

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

Admin

Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Friday (14 August) regarding the annual general meetings to be held from 1 to 2 September for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries An Hui Shipping Pte Ltd, Nan Chiau Maritime and Nan Yi Maritime Pte Ltd.

Annual general meetings for An Hui Shipping are to be held on 1 September at the following times:

For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meeting for Nan Chiau Maritime is to be held on 1 September at the following time:

For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meeting for Nan Yi Maritime is to be held on 2 September at the following time:

For the company and creditors: 2pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

To receive an update on the liquidation.
To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up.

The following are the details of the liquidator:

Ho May Kee
Liquidator
c/o 8 Marina View
#40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 17 August, 2026

Legal

Singapore police arrest eight over alleged illegal MGO transaction off Tuas

SPF says preliminary investigations found that crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat misappropriated MGO worth about SGD 10,570 without their company’s knowledge and sold it illegally.

Published

5 days ago

August 14, 2026

Admin

Singapore police arrest eight over alleged illegal MGO transaction off Tuas

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday (13 August) said it has arrested eight men, aged between 25 and 54, for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of Marine Gas Oil (MGO).

On 13 August 2026 at about 1.05am, officers from the Police Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a check on a Singapore-registered tugboat in the waters off Tuas and discovered that eight crew members were possibly involved in the illegal transaction of MGO.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew members of the tugboats misappropriated MGO valued at about SGD 10,570 (USD 8,258), without their company’s knowledge,” SPF said in a statement.

“The MGO was sold illegally for their personal financial gain.”

The eight crew members will be charged in court on 14 August 2026 with the offence of theft by servant of property in possession of master under Section 381 of the Penal Code 1871 If convicted, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term that may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

“The Police take a serious view of illegal transaction of MGO in Singapore Territorial Waters and will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters,” SPF added.

Photo credit: Singapore Police Force
Published: 14 August, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd issues notice of annual meeting

Annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

Published

7 days ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting was issued by liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 12 August, 2026