Business

Bunker Flash: Contaminated VLSFO in US-Gulf Region, warns CTI-Maritec

Maritec received feedback from two vessels that had used these fuels indicating issues such as excessive wear of fuel pump plungers, barrels, and fuel injectors.

Published

4 years ago

July 28, 2022

Admin

Marine fuel testing and marine surveying business Maritec Pte Ltd (CTI-Maritec) on Wednesday (27 July) issued an alert regarding contaminated VLSFO in the US-Gulf region with the uncharacteristic detection of chemical species such as Tetrachloroethylene and FAME:

Issued on 27 July 2022

Recently MARITEC has investigated 5 VLSFO samples that were bunkered in the US-Gulf region between June to July 2022. Operational Feedback was received from two vessels that had used these fuels indicating issues such as excessive wear of fuel pump plungers, barrels, and fuel injectors.

Further investigation through forensic analysis by ASTM D7845 Direct Injection and Solid Phase Extraction GCMS methods, has indicated these fuels to have an uncharacteristic detection of chemical species, specifically:

Tetrachloroethylene (Chlorinated Organic Compound) at concentration less than 100ppm
FAME at concentrations 300 to 400ppm
Fatty Acids at concentrations between 50-2000ppm

Though there is insufficient literature that the presence of these compounds especially at these concentration levels causing issues as mentioned above, it remains a cause of concern as they are not natural products of a refinery stream.

Through experience and feedback from vessel usage, these compounds primarily affect the fuel service system resulting in excessive wear of injection components.

It may not always be possible to get a thorough GCMS analysis along with the supplier’s Certificate of Quality prior bunkering. If you are planning to bunker in this region, we recommend ensuring correct sampling procedure and proper documentation is carried out onboard to ensure true representation of the bunkered fuel. Record any event and document evidence indicating any operational issues faced onboard by the vessel during the fuel usage.

Alternatively, CTI-Maritec advises to pre-emptively conduct GCMS by D7845 and Solid Phase Extract to look out for such deleterious material and check whether the fuel supplied to the vessel contravenes stipulations of the MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18.3 & ISO 8217 Clause 5 both of which mentions that marine fuels supplied to the ships should be free from chemical waste or added substances at quantities that may jeopardize the safety or adversely affects the performance of the machinery.

This document however does not reflect on the overall quality of fuel being supplied at US Gulf region, it is however advised to take the necessary precautions as indicated above.

Photo credit and source: CTI-Maritec
Published: 28 July, 2022

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

20 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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

20 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

20 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