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Falcon Navigation seeks claim from WFS over alleged cat fines/sulphur off-spec VLSFO

WFS delivered 240.06 mt of VLSFO and 30.20 mt of MGO to the M/V WL Uglich through agent NuStar Energy Services at Houston port in Texas on September 24 2020.

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WL UGLICH Kees van der Meijden MT

Copenhagen-based Falcon Navigation A/S, the chartering vehicle of Falcon Maritime Group, has filed a legal suit against World Fuel Services Corporation (WFS) at the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 23 March 2021.

The suit is regarding the delivery of alleged cat fine and sulphur off-spec VLSFO bunker fuel to the bulk carrier M/V WL Uglich, an ocean going vessel sub-chartered from Disponent Owner W.L. Shipping Ltd on 20 September 2020, according to court documents obtained by bunkering publication Manifold Times.

On September 24 2020, WFS delivered 240.06 metric tonnes (mt) of VLSFO and 30.20 mt of marine gas oil (MGO) to the M/V WL Uglich through agent NuStar Energy Services, Inc. at Houston port in Texas.

Testing by Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) found fuel samples exceeding the specifications for aluminium and silicon, and was above the legal limit for sulphur at 0.53%; subsequent testing by Intertek found sulphur to be at 0.5597%.

Falcon Navigation claimed it tried asking WFS for access to the barge samples (to verify whether the VLSFO was non-conforming) following the test reports from VPS and Intertek; however, WFS refused to allow the tests on both occasions.

On October 19, 2020, the M/V WL Uglich was redelivered to W.L. Shipping at Vila do Conde, Brazil where the Disponent Owners eventually conducted debunkering operations between October 24-25, 2020.

Due to the above developments, the Disponent Owners have also started arbitration proceedings at London, England and will be presenting a claim to Falcon Navigation seeking costs of replacement bunkers, costs of debunkering, and other losses.

Falcon Navigation believes it is potentially liable for claims of above USD $500,000 under the indemnity clause; and further potentially liable for claims in an amount in excess of USD $350,000 under the contribution clause.

“Any amounts that Plaintiff is compelled to pay in the arbitration referenced herein, whether by settlement or arbitration award, will be because of the damages occasioned by the provision of off-spec bunkers by WFS, and FALCON is therefore entitled to contribution from WFS,” stated the legal representative of Falcon Navigation.


Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Kees van der Meijden

Published: 22 April, 2021

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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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.

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

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.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

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.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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