Business

Argus Media: US-led naval coalition tells shipping to avoid Red Sea

US-led naval coalition in the Red Sea has warned all ships to stay away from the Bab el-Mandeb strait for “several” days, according to shipping association Intertanko.

Published

3 years ago

January 15, 2024

Admin

The US-led naval coalition in the Red Sea has warned all ships to stay away from the Bab el-Mandeb strait for “several” days, according to shipping association Intertanko, following the escalation of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants on commercial vessels in the region and retaliatory measures by the US and UK.

12 January 2024

In a message to its members, Intertanko said the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has recommended ships stay outside the Gulf of Aden “while a period of taking stock of the situation is undertaken until daylight on Saturday 13 January.” Since the recommendation was made, the UK Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it has received a report of a missile being fired at a vessel southeast of Aden. This is much further east than any of the recent assaults on shipping.

Tanker owners Hafnia, Stena Bulk and Torm told Argus they have decided today to stop sending ships through the southern Red Sea, joining shipowners including Belgian tanker owner Euronav in avoiding the area. A number of vessels are turning back from the Red Sea, ship tracking data show, including product tanker PM Monarch, formerly owned by Hafnia, and Trafigura-controlled Free Spirit.

The decision could be taken by more vessel owners as security risks increase in the region in the wake of the escalating attacks by the Houthis. Last night, the US and the UK carried out air and missile strikes against Houthi facilities in Yemen that the allies say were used to attack commercial shipping and naval vessels in the Red Sea. The action follows a warning by Washington and its allies on 3 January for the Houthis to stop targeting commercial ships or face military escalation. The Houthi disregarded the warning and on 9 January carried out their most sophisticated attack yet, targeting a US warship in the Red Sea.

Marine security specialist Dryad Global has advised all of its clients to suspend their operations in the Red Sea for at least 72 hours.

“Last night’s military engagement, distinct from [naval response] Operation Prosperity Guardian, warrants caution,” it said. “The full impact and effectiveness of these airstrikes are still being assessed. In the interim, there is a heightened risk of Houthi forces seeking immediate retribution by targeting accessible vessels within their vicinity.”

Clean tanker diversions around the Cape of Good Hope had halted at the end of December, with most preferring to use the Suez Canal again, according to data from Vortexa. Two of the world’s largest shipowners, Danish Maersk and German Hapag-Lloyd extended diversions away from the Suez Canal after the start of Operation Prosperity Guardian did not fully deter attacks by the Houthi.

By Yohanna Pinheiro and John Ollett

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 15 January, 2024

Related Topics:Others - Incident Others - Safety

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Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026