Business

LWP explains why the bunkering sector needs SCRIBE (Small Claims Resolved Informally By Experts)

‘It is a modern return to the guild community of earlier days where people can identify with each other while building trust and fellowship,’ shares arbitration and mediation veteran and expert Lee Wai Pong.

Published

6 years ago

November 10, 2020

Admin

SCRIBE (Small Claims Resolved Informally By Experts) is an unique dispute resolution tool which facilitates parties to continue their business relationship even after a private settlement, shares Singapore arbitration and mediation veteran and expert Lee Wai Pong.

Lee is the founder of LWP.Sg Consultants (LWP) and the creator of SCRIBE, which he spent two years to develop – it is the first of such private sector initiative for adoption and usage by members of the international Maritime / Oil & Gas Business Communities but Lee is quick to add that the generic nature of SCRIBE makes it equally suitable for the general business community to adopt.

“SCRIBE enables disputants to resolve their small claim disputes in a novel, cost effective and timely fashion that proportionally matches and manages the expectations of disputants by a well-known and respected panel of experts,” Lee explained to Manifold Times in an interview.

“It is not for parties who intend to be adversarial in their relationship, but rather geared towards players who trade with each other regularly and know each other well and are keen to preserve and restore the relationship when their dispute arises.

“Typically, the bunker supplier and shipowner relationship fits into this matrix. SCRIBE is the perfect tool when both parties are not keen to formalise an expensive and lengthy court process over a minor bunker quantity dispute [of between 5-100 mt].”

SCRIBE is applicable to claims of below USD 50,000. Parties are each allowed to produce a written submission (1,500-word limit) and granted an oral hearing (45 minutes) for a total fee of SGD 3,000. An additional appointment fee for the Expert of SGD 300/- is payable to LWP.Sg Consultants and a low venue fee will apply.

The whole procedure from time of application to delivery of decision by an expert takes about two months to complete. The parties need not be represented by lawyers.

“During the course of business a bunker supplier and shipowner may encounter situations where they both do not agree with each other; they mutually know a legal battle is not worth it, but appreciate a timely settlement to nip in the bud any possibility of the dispute flaring up,” shares Lee.

“Preparation for the statement of facts is easy due to the low word limit and it can be a situation where parties simply appear at the venue representing themselves while presenting their case to an expert.

“Overall, it is a modern return to the guild community of earlier days where people can identify with each other while building trust and fellowship. The decision made by the expert is contractually binding and if the SCRIBE contract is breached, parties can sue on the contract in Court.”

Full details of SCRIBE can be found in the webpage link: http://lwp.sg/scribe.php

Messages of support for SCRIBE include:

The Hon. Sir Bernard Eder Q.C. – International Judge, Singapore International Commercial Court
Allen & Gledhill LLP – Vivian Ang, Partner
Harry Elias Partnership LLP – Francis Goh, Partner
Standard P&I Club – David Roberts, MD
Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance – Darryll Ng, Managing Partner
Wee Swee Teow LLP – Giam Chin Toon S.C. and Arvin Lee, Partners
Esben Poulsson – Chairman, ENESEL Pte Ltd – Shipowner
Caroline Yang – CEO, Hong Lam Marine- Shipowner
Nick Fell – EVP, BW Group – Shipowner
Magdalene Chew – Founding Director, AsiaLegal LLC / Director – HFW AsiaLegal
Charles Menaro – President Director, PT Meratus Group – Shipowner
K Murali Pany and John Sze – Managing Partner / Dy Managing Partner, JTJB LLP

Photo credit: LWP.Sg Consultants
Published: 10 November, 2020

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026