Connect with us

Business

Interview: VPS Bunker Surveyors record total 82,490 MT of undeclared bunkers in 2020

‘We need to keep in mind the saying “penny wise pound foolish”,’ says Captain Rahul Choudhuri, the Managing Director AMEA at VPS, who stresses on the essential role of the Bunker Surveyor.
Admin

Published

5 years ago

on

VPS importance of bunker surveyor MT

VPS Bunker Surveyors recorded a total 82,490 MT of undeclared bunkers last year, many of which could have been prevented if stakeholders hired bunker surveyors at just a fraction of the cost, according to the international fuel testing and inspection company’s Managing Director of AMEA.

“The observation we have is that the engagement of the bunker surveyor to oversee the bunkering operations has taken a back seat with the onset of COVID pandemic,” Captain Rahul Choudhuri tells Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.

“Monitoring and control of both the operations and finances are part and parcel of good fuel management. Financial loss will be inevitable without the control of the bunker operations.”

Captain Choudhuri adds 2020 to be a watershed year due to the COVID pandemic as the development resulted in restrictions implemented at various countries – which impacted the maritime business.

“Cost and resource cutting measures were implemented and continue to be implemented to keep the business afloat. Restrictions in the movement of personnel and safe management measures differed from port to port and from country to country,” he shared.

“Nevertheless, a balance must be attained between cutting cost and control of expenses. We need to keep in mind the saying ‘penny wise pound foolish’ where the purchase of bunkers will continue to be the major expense for the running of the ships.”

Captain Choudhuri, also the co-author of a 2020-published VPS White Paper: Quantity Shortage Prevention for Marine Fuels, said investigations covering more than 10,000 bunkering operations carried out in 2019 have found the activity requiring the constant presence of a knowledgeable and professional Bunker Surveyor.

“Failure to do this will result in a total bunker quantity loss in the order of US$96,200 per vessel per year,” he states.

“The engagement of a VPS Bunker Surveyor at approximately 15% of this cost will not only save money, but significantly reduce management stress, time and reputation.”

VPS importance of surveyor chart

Findings of VPS Bunker Surveyors from 2020 till to date

Captain Choudhuri continued to share some relevant case studies recorded by VPS Bunker Surveyors from 2020 till to date across the key bunker survey stations of Singapore, Rotterdam, Fujairah, and Houston.

  • In May 2020, undeclared bunkers of 229.155 MT was found on vessel A.
  • In July 2020, undeclared bunkers of 301.013 MT was found on vessel B.
  • In August 2020, undeclared bunkers of 198.943 MT was found on vessel C.
  • In September 2020, undeclared bunkers of 204.027 MT was found on vessel D.
  • In September 2020, undeclared bunkers of 158.375 MT was found on vessel E.
  • In January 2021, undeclared bunkers of 111.332 MT was found on vessel F.
  • In January 2021, undeclared bunkers of 119.316 MT was found on vessel G.
  • In February 2021, undeclared MGO was found in LO tank & vessel’s H crew suspected of fraudulent practice & documented.
  • In March 2021, undeclared bunkers of 129.734 MT was found on vessel I.
  • In March 2021, sampling dispute was documented where the supplier wrongly claimed that sampling at custody transfer on vessel J was not witnessed.

“This data corroborates with the VPS White Paper on Quantity Shortage Prevention for Martine Fuels released on 22nd July 2020 where we were able to show that failure to control the bunkering process can result in bunker quantity loss of US$96,200 per vessel per year,” he explains.

“On average, where ROB surveys are conducted, excess bunkers of 15 MT per vessel has been found. This translates to US$5,000 per bunkering or US$50,000 cost savings per vessel per year.

“The Bunker Surveyor acts as the ‘eyes & ears’ for the already busy vessel’s Chief Engineer, supervising the total bunker operation and taking care of the bunker delivery, provide local knowledge, complete all the necessary paperwork, ensure proper sampling & distribution, and fast sample dispatch to the nearest VPS laboratory.

“Thus the role of the Bunker Surveyor cannot be underestimated or neglected in bad times as it adds value to the overall management of the purchase of bunkers.”

 

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 14 April, 2021

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

11 hours ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

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

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

11 hours ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

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

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

11 hours ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

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

Continue Reading

Trending