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Senior MPA staff, who oversaw implementation of MFM bunkering, awarded hydrography medal

Dr Parry Oei, in addition to his contributions to hydrography, played a key role in the introduction of mass flowmeter bunkering at Singapore port.
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Dr Parry Oei, former Chief Hydrographer of Singapore and current Senior Adviser for Hydrography at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), on Monday (20 April) was awarded the Prince Albert I Medal for Hydrography by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

The Medal is one of the highest recognitions in hydrography. It is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing global hydrography and the safety and efficiency of maritime navigation.

Conferred at the IHO Assembly, it recognises work with lasting impact on international standards, practices and cooperation in the use of the seas.

According to MPA, Dr Oei’s career spans close to four decades. He played an early role in advancing the use of satellite positioning and real-time current measurement in hydrographic surveys, improving the accuracy and reliability of marine data.

He also contributed to international efforts at the International Maritime Organization to strengthen navigational safety, including work supporting the adoption of electronic chart display systems on ships.

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First Commercial Bunker Delivery in Singapore Using Mass Flow Metering System (11 July 2012)

Dr Parry Oei’s contributions to the Singapore bunkering sector

Manifold Times wishes to highlight Dr Oei, in addition to his contributions to hydrography, played a key role in the introduction of mass flowmeter (MFM) bunkering at Singapore port.

“Dr Parry Oei played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the MFM for bunker deliveries in Singapore. At a time when the technology was nascent, he systematically guided the team to address the multifaceted concerns of shipowners, buyers, and suppliers alike,” shared Elfian Harun, former Assistant Director of MPA’s Bunker Services Department.

“Parry was truly in the trenches with us, engaging stakeholders directly to build the necessary trust and acceptance for this transition. His leadership in establishing robust support frameworks, including a 24/7 helpline for dispute resolution, was essential in overcoming initial reservations.

“These efforts paved the way for the normalisation of MFM operations, securing a significant competitive advantage for Singapore as a premier global port.”

“Dr Parry Oei was instrumental in Singapore’s maritime journey—engaging international stakeholders to build consensus, driving alignment within MPA and helping establish key compliance frameworks that strengthened industry standards,” recounts Darrick Pang, Managing Director of Metcore.

“His efforts consistently focused on raising the bar for safety, transparency and operational discipline across the maritime ecosystem.

“He also helped shape a more trusted and structured industry environment, ensuring long-term resilience and credibility in Singapore’s position as a global maritime hub.”

“I worked with Dr Parry as an industry player for a few years when he was overseeing operations for MPA’s whole bunker department. Dr Parry is amongst the very few individuals from MPA who bothered visiting bunker industry players in their own office to talk to them and see their concerns,” stated Singapore bunker industry veteran Simon Neo.

“That’s something which struck me deeply as most of past directors have never done that and it was also during this period when the bunker industry was slowly being cleaned up. We had over 80 bunker suppliers before Dr Parry took charge of bunkering. The number of players slowly decreased because he went in and cleaned up the industry.

“Dr Parry was also present in the technical committee that oversees development of the TR 48:2015 Technical Reference for Bunker Mass Flow Metering [predecessor of SS 648].

“Besides being instrumental in pushing for TR 48 and MFM bunkering, Dr Parry also suggested for the establishment of MFM testing equipment in Singapore as early adopters needed to send their MFMs to Europe for testing. This enabled our bunker industry players to save on immense time and money.

“Thankfully, he was the key person who really cleaned up our [bunker] industry.”

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 23 April 2026

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Vessel Arrest

Singapore: Cook Islands-flagged tanker “Arthgallo” placed under Sheriff’s arrest

Cargo ship was arrested at 5pm on 20 July while the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Ming Law Asia.
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RESIZED SG bunker tanker

Cook Islands-flagged oil/chemical tanker Arthgallo was arrested in Singapore waters on Monday (20 July).

The vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system. 

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 5pm and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Ming Law Asia. The ship is currently held at Raffles Reserved Anch/ 4611D Raffles Reserved. 

No details were provided in the list regarding the reason behind the arrest.

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 27 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Notice of intended dividend issued for Nan Ho Maritime, Nan Xin Maritime

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidators of Nan Ho Maritime and Nan Xin Maritime by 7 August, according to Government Gazette notice.
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Two notices to declare the intended dividend of Nan Ho Maritime Pte Ltd and Nan Xin Maritime Pte Ltd to their creditors have been posted on the Government Gazette on Friday (24 July).

The following are the details of the notices of intended dividend:

Name of Company : Nan Ho Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 200814315C
Address of Former Registered Office : 21 Bukit Batok Crescent, #22-70 WCEGA Tower, Singapore 658065
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 7th day of August 2026
Name of Liquidators : Abuthahir Abdul Gafoor & Yessica Budiman
Address of Liquidators : c/o AAG Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd., 11 Collyer Quay, #07-02 The Arcade, Singapore 049317

Name of Company : Nan Xin Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701966W
Address of Former Registered Office : 21 Bukit Batok Crescent, #22-70 WCEGA Tower, Singapore 658065
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 7th day of August 2026
Name of Liquidators : Abuthahir Abdul Gafoor & Yessica Budiman
Address of Liquidators : c/o AAG Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd., 11 Collyer Quay, #07-02 The Arcade, Singapore 049317

 

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 27 July, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

Peninsula: Red Sea hostilities drive bunker supply crunch and MedECA compliance challenges

As Red Sea hostilities continue to force widespread maritime diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, bunker company Peninsula warns of a “perfect storm” for global tanker operators.
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July 27, 2026

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As Red Sea hostilities continue to force widespread maritime diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, bunker company Peninsula on Friday (24 July) warned of a “perfect storm” for global tanker operators.

The unprecedented surge in tonne-mile demand is now intersecting with stringent Mediterranean emissions regulations, threatening to more than double operational costs and severely tighten bunker supply at alternative key ports.

With the Bab el-Mandeb Strait increasingly bypassed, vessels are exiting the Red Sea via the Suez Canal and navigating westbound through the Mediterranean to reach Asia.

Peninsula noted that this detour could more than double the normal tonne-mile demand of a Bab el-Mandeb eastbound exit. For a typical Suezmax tanker, the diversion will require around 1,500 metric tonnes (mt) of additional fuel, at a cost of circa USD 800,000, and an emissions cost of roughly 3,800 mt of CO2.

Spot rates for Suezmax vessels – the largest tankers that can transit the Suez Canal fully laden – are already increasing, causing a scramble to cover the cargoes before the tonne-mile effect kicks in.

Kenny MacLean, Chief Operations Officer at Peninsula, said: “The industry could be dealing with a sudden, significant increase in fuel consumption. This is more complex than simply plotting a longer course – it will require a fundamental recalibration of voyage economics that will squeeze global bunker supply at a time when demand already outstrips supply.”

Beyond the raw cost of fuel, Peninsula is highlighting a critical regulatory blind spot for rerouted vessels – the Mediterranean Emissions Control Area (MedECA). Under these rules, vessels transiting the entire Mediterranean must burn fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%, rendering standard Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) non-compliant.

With European authorities increasingly deploying “sniffer drones” to remotely analyse vessel emissions in real-time, operators must switch to compliant Marine Gas Oil (MGO) or suitable biofuels before entering the region. Failure to secure compliant fuel risks severe fines and costly vessel detentions.

The sudden shift in maritime traffic could redraw the global bunkering map. Peninsula expects significantly increased demand in alternative physical supply ports along the revised route, including Port Said, Malta, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Las Palmas, Algoa Bay, and Port Louis.

Richard Alvarez, Global Head of Sales at Peninsula, added: “Operators are navigating a regulatory and logistical minefield. Securing compliant fuel conveniently, in the right location, in a rising price environment is now the defining challenge of these deviated voyages.

“As supply tightens at alternative bunker hubs, the ability to rely on suppliers with a globally integrated supply network and deep access to multi-product cargos will prove critical to minimise disruption and avoid the costs of non-compliance.”

 

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 27 July, 2026

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