Business

Argus Media: Indonesia seizes Iran, Panama-flagged tankers- Correct

Since being sanctioned, Tehran has used unconventional methods to sell its oil, such using state-owned vessels that turn off their AIS transmitters to conduct shipments.

Published

5 years ago

January 26, 2021

Admin

Nader Itayim and Adal Mirza of global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Monday (25 January) published a summary on the arrest of an Iranian crude tanker and a Panamanian vessel suspected of carrying out illegal ship-to-ship (STS) bunker transfers in Indonesia:

Removes reference to Freya’s owner

Indonesia said it has seized an Iranian crude tanker and a Panamanian vessel suspected of carrying out “illegal” ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in its waters.

The Horse, an Iranian-flagged very-large crude carrier (VLCC), and the Freya, a Panama-flagged VLCC, were seized off West Kalimantan province in the Indonesian part of Borneo on 24 January, according to the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). Images circulated by the coast guard showed the two vessels moored side by side, next to an Indonesian coast guard vessel.

At 06:00 local time yesterday (23:00 GMT on 23 January), the Bakamla “visually detected two motor tanker vessels carrying out STS that were suspected to be illegal fuel transfers while deliberately covering the names of the hulls with cloths to fool Indonesian law enforcement officers,” it said.

The Bakamla said it tried to make contact with the crew of both vessels, but when they received no answer, they were given orders to board and search the tankers.

“Initial allegations were that the two tankers violated the right of transit passage” through the archipelagic sea lanes and “were carrying out illegal STS fuel transfers, not raising the national flags, shutting down the [automatic identification systems] AIS and the MT Freya was spilling oil,” the Bakamla said.

The nature of the alleged STS transfer is not clear. The Freya had disabled its AIS since 23 January and the Horse since 12 January.

The Horse — which is owned by Iran’s state-owned tanker company NITC — departed fully laden with approximately 2mn bl of Venezuelan Merey crude from the Jose terminal on 21 September last year, according to Vortexa. It then docked at Iran’s Jask terminal in November and was expected to discharge crude in Indonesia on 28 January.

The Bakamla said the two vessels have been taken to the Indonesian port of Batam near Singapore for “further investigation”.

Since coming under US sanctions once again in 2018, Tehran has increasingly turned to unconventional methods to sell its oil, often conducting shipments by state-owned vessels that turn off their AIS transmitters.

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 26 January, 2021

Winding up

Singapore: Notice of intended dividend issued for Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidators of Da Xin Tankers and Nan Chiau Maritime by 5 August, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

11 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Two notices to declare the intended dividend of Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries to their creditors have been posted on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (22 July).

The subsidiaries are Da Xin Tankers Pte Ltd and Nan Chiau Maritime Pte Ltd.

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

Name of Company : Da Xin Tankers (Pte) Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 198400895W
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Name of Company : Nan Chiau Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No.: 200814296Z
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 23 July, 2026

Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

Published

11 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Decarbonisation

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

Both will explore solutions spanning emissions measurement and verification, a digital Book-and-Claim framework, and a joint maritime-land inset token package.

Published

11 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

PSA International (PSA) on Monday (20 July) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) to jointly accelerate the adoption of low-carbon solutions across the maritime value chain.

Beyond emissions measurement and verification, the collaboration will focus on a digital Book-and-Claim framework and a joint maritime-land based inset token package.

“This synergy provides cargo stakeholders with a transparent and accountable sea-land pathway to achieve their decarbonisation targets,” PSA said on its website.

Yang Ming launched the green transport service, EcoSea+. This initiative integrates Yang Ming’s low-carbon navigation capabilities to empower customers with a flexible and transparent strategy to effectively reduce their Scope 3 transportation emissions. By joining forces with PSA, Yang Ming is able to expand the impact of these sustainability actions beyond the ocean.

Building on its position as a global port operator, PSA advances its Node to Network strategy through integrated port and supply chain capabilities that enable a green network of terminal and landside operations to reduce end-to-end supply chain emissions.

The agreement was officially signed by Mr Ivan Chiang, Chief Logistics Officer & Senior Vice President of Yang Ming, and Mr Eddy Ng, Group Head of Operations, Technology and Sustainability of PSA International.

Mr Ong Kim Pong, PSA International Group CEO, said, “As responsible stewards of tomorrow, PSA is committed to delivering sustainable impact across the global port and supply chain ecosystem.

“Tackling the challenges arising from climate change will require the collective efforts of all players in the maritime supply chain sector. We are excited to partner Yang Ming on the decarbonisation of global supply chains and support the transition towards a more sustainable global economy.”

Photo credit: PSA International
Published: 23 July, 2026