Business

IBIA welcomes new Chairman, committee members

Robin Meech and Eugenia Benavides step down from board after serving for maximum time allowed under the association’s bye-laws.

Published

8 years ago

February 20, 2018

Admin

The below is a press release from the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA):

The next chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and the result of board elections were announced at IBIA’s AGM on Monday 19 February, a few hours before more than 1,000 marine fuel professionals gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane for the 25th IBIA Annual Dinner.

After two years serving as the Chairman of IBIA, Robin Meech of Marine and Energy Consulting will be passing on the baton to Michael Green, Global Technical Manager at Intertek Shipcare, who is currently the Vice Chairman.

Henrik Zederkof, a Senior Director at Bunker Holding A/S, will take over as Vice Chairman of IBIA. Martin Laue Brodersen from the Danish shipping company Torm, who joined the board on 1 April 2017, will take over from Eugenia Benavides, Marine Director of Terpel S.A. as Treasurer.

Ten candidates were up for election for four board positions. The four board members that were elected for a 3-year term are industry consultant, author and lecturer Nigel Draffin (re-elected), Patrick Holloway of law firm Webber Wentzel Attorneys (re-elected), Adrian Pask of BP Marine and Nicolas Vukelja of Terramare.

Robin Meech and Eugenia Benavides have both now served as board members for the maximum time allowed under the Association’s bye-laws and have to step down.

The changes to the board take effect on 1 April 2019.

Welcoming guests to IBIA’s 25th annual dinner on Monday evening, Chief Executive Justin Murphy emphasised that even in our age of electronic exchanges, people remain at the heart of the industry, which is why it is so important for IBIA to facilitate connections, whether it’s via technology or in person. He told members that the IBIA website will soon be re-launched and a new membership management system will be implemented – both of which will improve the interface with members. Moreover, there is potential for new regional membership branches. All of this will contribute to the many ways in which members can engage with IBIA’s working groups to deliver value to the industry. Two concrete examples of this are the Supplier’s Guide to Best Practice, which will be presented to the 72nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protecion Committee for its consideration in April, and the Ethics Working Group, which is gaining traction with the development of the IBIA Code of Ethics.

Speaking at the dinner, Robin Meech praised the professionalism of IBIA’s Chief Executive, Justin Murphy, and the enthusiastic and effective secretariat in London, Singapore and South Africa in helping to raise the Association’s profile. “It has been an honour to be chairman of IBIA for the past two years. They have been an interesting two years,” he said. “I have great pleasure in passing the baton of the chairmanship of IBIA to Michael Green who I know will accelerate the rate of growth of the influence and value for money for our current and new membership.”

“I can’t possibly begin to convey to you what an honour and a privilege it is to stand before you this evening as the incoming Chairman of IBIA,” Michael Green told the dinner guests.

Both Meech and Green said IBIA is now in its strongest position for quite some time, highlighting that the Association is proactive and forward thinking, and has made significant contributions at the International Maritime Organization. “The fact that we find ourselves with IBIA in such a position of strength at this current time is very reassuring given all of the concerns surrounding what is expected in the coming years,” Green said.

Source: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 20 February 2018

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

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

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