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

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.

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