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Aegean: U.S. Bankruptcy Court clears Mercuria Energy take over

Development allows Aegean to emerge from Chapter 11, and Mercuria’s DIP financing plan to take effect.

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The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York on Tuesday (26 March) approved the restructuring plan of New York listed bunkering firm Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (Aegean).

“Notwithstanding anything herein or the Plan or any Plan Document to the contrary, the Final DIP Order shall survive the Effective Date,” stated the document signed by Bankruptcy Judge Michael Wiles.

The development clears the way for Mercuria Energy to take over Aegean, and allows Mercuria’s Debtor-in-Possession financing (DIP) plan to start in April 2019.

“The Debtors or Reorganized Debtors, as applicable, or the Litigation Trust shall resolve Disputed Claims against the Estates consistent with the provisions of Article VIII of the Plan,” it states.

“The Reorganized Debtors shall file post-Confirmation disbursement and status reports every six (6) months until the Chapter 11 Cases are closed by means of a final decree, converted to a case under chapter 7, or dismissed, whichever happens earlier.”

A timeline organised list of events preceding the current development have been recorded by Manifold Times below:

Related: Aegean: Bankruptcy Court approves disclosure statement, procedures
RelatedAegean: ‘Significant milestones’ achieved in restructuring progress
RelatedAegean Chapter 11: Judge authorises restructuring activity to start
RelatedAegean Chapter 11: Mercuria counters Oaktree/Hartree proposal plan
RelatedAegean Chapter 11: Bondholders object Mercuria’s $532 million DIP Facility
RelatedAegean Chapter 11: Creditor list shows exposure of 30 parties
RelatedAegean files for Chapter 11, Mercuria to be ‘stalking horse bidder’
RelatedAegean auditors alleges up to $300 million ‘misappropriated’
RelatedAegean: Forensic auditors target investigations on four companies
RelatedPresident of Aegean to leave, effective November 15
RelatedRumours: Alleged changes at Aegean’s management
RelatedMercuria starts ‘sole lender’ arrangement with Aegean
RelatedAegean establishes new management committee
RelatedMercuria bails Aegean out with $1 billion credit
RelatedOcean Intelligence comments on Aegean credit downgrade
RelatedAegean shares down 71%, to face legal investigations
RelatedAegean audit uncovers $200 million account discrepancy
RelatedAegean unfolds several business developments
RelatedAegean drops founder, elects new board members
RelatedAegean requests for ‘additional time’ to file annual report
RelatedAegean welcomes new Chief Financial Officer
RelatedLawsuit filed against Aegean’s H.E.C. acquisition
RelatedAegean to offer ‘one-stop-shop solution’ with H.E.C. acquisition
RelatedAegean in $367 million acquisition of port reception facilities services group
RelatedAegean shareholders ‘gravely concerned’ over board’s silence
RelatedShareholders nominate ‘highly qualified’ candidates to Aegean board
RelatedAegean Marine Petroleum Network under shareholder pressure

Published: 27 March, 2019
 

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Milestone

Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation, notes COO of Equatorial.

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Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (Equatorial) in early May carried out its first bio-blended B24 Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) bunker fuel delivery of 2025.

The milestone saw Equatorial’s Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO Type II bunker tanker EM Nikita delivering Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) based LSMGO, blended to B24 spec, to an Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) operated vessel with its electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN).

“This milestone represents not just Equatorial’s first B24 LSMGO delivery, but also a significant step forward for sustainable marine fuel adoption in Singapore,” Choong Sheen Mao, Chief Operating Officer at Equatorial, told Manifold Times.

“It showcases our capability to evolve alongside the market and our commitment to providing certified, traceable, and high-quality biofuels to our customers.”

According to So Kah Meng, Sustainable Energy Manager at Equatorial, several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation.

“Bio-blended LSMGO is significantly rarer in the market than bio-blended VLSFO due to limited production capacity, stricter blending requirements, and limited downstream demand. Equatorial secured supply through advanced procurement planning and leveraging trusted ISCC-certified upstream partners,” he explained.

“ISCC EU certification was essential to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance. Equatorial worked closely with its supply chain to ensure full documentation and sustainability verification ahead of the delivery schedule.

“Unlike bio-VLSFO, bio-blended LSMGO’s lower viscosity and pour point demanded additional considerations in tank pre-treatment and temperature control during transfer. Equatorial implemented specialised cleaning protocols and temperature monitoring to maintain fuel integrity.

“Coordination between our UCOME supplier, storage facility, barge planning, and receiving vessel was critical. Equatorial’s in-house technical and commercial teams worked closely with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and classification societies to ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety.”

Moving forward, Patrick Ng, Assistant Marketing Manager at Equatorial, believed the milestone operation was made possible by the favourable commercial maritime landscape under the supervision of MPA.

“Singapore’s strong regulatory framework, established bunkering infrastructure, and growing customer interest in low-carbon fuels have made it possible for projects like this to be commercially viable,” he stated.

“Equatorial is proud to contribute to Singapore’s decarbonisation leadership.”

Related: Singapore: President of Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services receives ‘Industry Icon Award’
Related
: Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel launches sustainable energy business unit, commits towards multi-fuel future
Related: Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel conducts carbon credit trial with Carbon Management Solutions
Related: Singapore-registered bunker tankers can transport up to B30 biofuels from 7 March

 

Photo credit: Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services
Published: 20 May 2025

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Winding up

Singapore: Notice of dividend issued for defunct bunkering firm Coastal Oil Singapore

Second and final dividend of Coastal Oil Singapore is scheduled to be released from 19 May; company’s former Chief Finance Officer received a nine-year jail sentence in 2021.

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RESIZED Coastal Oil Singapore Pte Ltd

A notice was published in the Government Gazette on Friday (16 May), regarding the second and final dividend to creditors of defunct bunkering firm Coastal Oil Singapore Pte Ltd.

The following are details of the notice of dividend of the company:

Name of Company : Coastal Oil Singapore Pte. Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation) (Co. Reg. No 200413975N)
Address of Registered Office : 1 Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583
Amount per centum : 0.3552 per centum of all admitted ordinary claims
First and final or otherwise : Second and Final Dividend
When payable : On or after 19 May 2025
Method of payment : Remittance or telegraphic transfer
Where payable : c/o FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, 1 Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583

In 2021, the former Chief Finance Officer of Coastal Oil Singapore received a nine-year jail sentence at the State Courts of Singapore.

Ong Ah Huat earlier pleaded guilty to 15 charges; the charges include three counts of engaging in a scheme to defraud and nine counts of forgery for conspiring with accomplices to defraud eight banks into approving USD 320 million in loans.

The banks involved were: China Merchants Bank (Singapore), Bank of Communications (Hong Kong), BNP Paribas (Hong Kong), Cooperative Rabobank (Hong Kong), DBS Bank (Hong Kong), HSBC (Hong Kong), OCBC (Hong Kong), and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong).

In 2019, Manifold Times reported Hong Kong-listed COSCO SHIPPING International (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd stating its indirect wholly-owned bunkering subsidiary Sinfeng suspecting fraud to be involved in the liquidation of Coastal Oil Singapore during December 2018.

It was believed Coastal Oil Singapore owed approximately US $357 million to 79 firms. Out of the total USD 357 million, banks were the hardest hit taking up about US $354 million, or 99.1%, of total credit owed.

A complete coverage of the events leading to the current development has been arranged by Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times (in descending date order) below: 

Related: Notice of intended dividend issued for defunct bunkering firm Coastal Oil Singapore
Related: Former CFO of defunct bunkering firm Coastal Oil Singapore receives nine-year jail sentence
Related: Former Coastal Oil CFO admits to defrauding eight banks of USD 320 million in loans
Related: Singapore: Former Coastal Oil employees face forgery charges over fake sales contracts
Related: Coastal Oil hearings progress, court grants liquidators access to Sinfeng documents
Related: China Merchants Bank legal suit with Sinfeng over alleged $13 million debt progresses
Related: Fraud suspected in Coastal Oil Singapore case, says COSCO
Related: Coastal Logistics owned “Atalanta”, “Babylon” to undergo auction
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Mercury” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Coastal Logistics owned MR tanker “Babylon” arrested
Related: Fraud suspected in Coastal Oil Singapore case, says COSCO
Related: Coastal Oil Singapore: Creditor list surfaces in bunker market
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Coastal Oil Singapore creditors meeting scheduled on 10 Jan
Related: Coastal Oil Singapore in US $380 million debt to at least 10 banks
Related: Singapore: Coastal Logistics owned MR tanker “Atalanta” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market
Related: Coastal Oil Singapore to hold creditors meeting on 28 Dec
Related: Breaking news: Coastal Oil Singapore under liquidation

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 19 May, 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Liberia-registered boxship for illegal anchoring off Sekinchan

Container ship was anchored without permission at 22.5 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan on 16 May; Russian captain and Second Engineer were taken to headquarters for further investigation.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Liberia-registered boxship for illegal anchoring off Sekinchan

The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Sunday (18 May) said it detained a Liberia-registered container ship for anchoring without permission at 22.5 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan at about 1.20pm on 16 May.

Selangor Maritime director Maritime Captain Maritime Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the Klang Area Control Centre’s Maritime Surveillance System detected the position of the suspicious vessel at about 9.20am. 

He said checks with the Central Region Maritime Department found that the container ship did not apply for permission to anchor. 

Preliminary inspection found that the ship was registered in Liberia and is operated by a 44-year-old Russian captain along with 23 crew from various nationalities aged between 32 to 50 years. All of them had complete identification documents.

Further investigation found that the captain of the ship failed to present any documents showing permission to anchor. 

Following that, Abdul Muhaimin said a detention order was issued for the vessel while the captain and a Second Engineer were brought to the Selangor Maritime Department headquarters for further investigations. 

The case is being investigated under the Merchant Ship Ordinance 1952 for docking without permission from the Malaysian Marine Department director-general. 

“If found guilty, they could be imposed a fine of not more than MYR 100,000 or a jail term of two years or both,” he said. 

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 19 May, 2025

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