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Magnets on MFMs: Criminal syndicate convicted over MFM tampering offences; cases closed

Criminal syndicate’s tampering with MFMs on bunker tankers Southernpec 6 and Southernpec 7 conceptualised by three masterminds and carried out by cargo officers on board, according to joint statement.

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Nine members of a criminal syndicate have been convicted in 2020 and 2021 for offences under the Computer Misuse Act, for using industrial strength magnets to tamper with the Mass Flow Meter (MFM) equipment on board bunker tankers Southernpec 6 and Southernpec 7 to cheat buyers of marine fuel oil (MFO).

According to a Thursday (30 September) joint statement from Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and Singapore Police Force (SPF), buyers were cheated of USD 336,930.63 worth of MFO in total.

The outcomes of the cases, jointly investigated by MPA and SPF, against three masterminds and six cargo officers are set out in the table below:

S/N Name (Alias) Role Date of Sentencing Sentence
1 Ang Heng Lye (Eric) Mastermind 21 June 2021 35 months’ imprisonment
2 Tay Tien Whui (Jason) Mastermind 4 August 2021 34 months and 2 weeks’ imprisonment
3 Kek Kah Hui (Dylan) Mastermind 26 June 2021 34 months’ imprisonment
4 Ang Heng Chye Cargo officer 26 August 2020 19 months’ imprisonment
5 Heng Meng Wee, Stanley Cargo officer 28 July 2021 18 months and 2 weeks’ imprisonment
6 Leong Wai Chew, Lionel Cargo officer 27 July 2021 13 months’ imprisonment
7 Chua Yew Hui, Andy Cargo officer 9 June 2020 9 months’ imprisonment
8 Chua Yan Jing, Gab Cargo officer 30 September 2020 7 months’ imprisonment
9 Kek Kah Hee Cargo officer 13 November 2020 2 weeks’ imprisonment

 

“To uphold the integrity of the bunker process in the Port of Singapore, MPA has mandated the use of MFMs for the delivery of MFO as it provides assurance to both buyers and suppliers on the delivered quantity of MFO, and enhances transparency in the bunkering process,” they stated.

“The authorities take a serious view of such criminal activities and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who commit offences that undermine Singapore’s international reputation as a trusted shipping and bunkering hub.”

The criminal syndicate’s tampering with MFMs on bunker tankers Southernpec 6 and Southernpec 7 was conceptualised by the masterminds, and carried out by the cargo officers on board.

The syndicate’s illegal operations were discovered during an enforcement check by MPA in April 2019.

MPA revoked the bunker craft operator and bunker supplier licence of Southernpec (Singapore) Pte Ltd with effect from 8 May 2019 and 29 May 2019 respectively.

The modus operandi of the syndicate is set out in Annex A (below):

Annotation 2021 09 30 113916

Related: Magnets on MFMs: Director of Urban Energy to serve 34 months’ imprisonment over bunkering offences
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Trial ends with 35-month imprisonment sentence for Director of Seahub Energy
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Trial ends with ten-month imprisonment for Bunker Clerk of “Fragrance”
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Driver posed as Southernpec bunker crew to commit MFM tampering
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Trial starts for former bunker clerk of “Consort Justice”
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: First suspect charged over MFM tampering in landmark case
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: “Consort Justice” crew pleads ‘not guilty’ to tampering charge
RelatedSingapore: Southernpec bunker supplier licence revoked by MPA
RelatedOfficial: MPA revokes Southernpec bunker craft operator licence
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: MPA suspends Southernpec bunker craft license
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Case of ‘a few bad apples spoiling the basket’
RelatedMagnets on MFMs: Issue a breach of ‘Operational Security’ under TR 48 (updated)
RelatedSingapore: Sea Hub Energy exits MPA bunker craft operator list

 

Photo credit: Attorney-General’s Chambers
Published: 30 September, 2021

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Methanol

China: Chimbusco completes bunkering op with domestically produced green methanol

Chimbusco delivered 1,000 mt of domestically produced green methanol bunker fuel to “COSCO Shipping Yangpu”, China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, from 11 to 12 July.

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China: Chimbusco completes bunkering op with domestically produced green methanol

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) on Monday (14 July) said it successfully completed a green methanol bunkering operation for COSCO Shipping’s first methanol-dual-fuel container vessel at Shengdong Terminal in Yangshan Port. 

Chimbusco delivered 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of domestically produced green methanol fuel to COSCO Shipping Yangpu from 11 to 12 July. 

COSCO Shipping Yangpu is the first methanol-dual-fuel container vessel invested and built by COSCO Shipping Group. The company previously deemed the vessel China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship. 

 With an overall length of 366 meters and a beam of 51 metres, it has a maximum container capacity of 16,136 TEUs. 

The vessel employs an advanced dual-fuel propulsion system that enables flexible switching between methanol and traditional fuels. When using green methanol as fuel, it significantly reduces carbon emissions and pollutant discharges during operations, injecting strong impetus into the green transformation of China’s shipping industry.

“This green methanol bunkering operation, jointly completed by COSCO Shipping Lines, CHIMBUSCO, and SIPG Energy Shanghai, represents another proactive exploration by CHIMBUSCO in the field of green methanol bunkering at Shanghai Port,” Chimbusco said.

“It also marks another significant step by COSCO Shipping Group in advancing the green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry and integrating the entire methanol supply chain.”

“As a leading domestic marine fuel supplier, CHIMBUSCO actively responded to shipowners’ demand for green methanol bunkering and worked closely with COSCO Shipping Lines, SIPG Energy Shanghai and other entities to develop a detailed supply plan and emergency response plan in advance, in accordance with relevant bunkering standards for marine methanol fuel.”

Manifold Times previously reported Chimbusco completing a methanol bunkering operation of the same vessel in Shanghai on 11 May. 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 mt of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

Related: Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship
Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Dalian
Published: 17 July 2025

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Methanol

Shanghai Electric starts producing first batch green methanol bunker fuel with new plant

New batch of green methanol will soon arrive at Shanghai Port and be delivered to CMA CGM to enter the international market as a marine fuel.

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Shanghai Electric starts producing first batch green methanol bunker fuel with new plant

Shanghai Electric on Thursday (17 July) announced its Jilin Taonan Green Methanol Project, China’s first facility to fully integrate wind-to-hydrogen with biomass gasification, is now producing its first batch of ISCC-EU certified green methanol.

This batch of green methanol will soon arrive at Shanghai Port and be delivered to CMA CGM to enter the international market as a marine fuel.

The company said the milestone event marked a major national breakthrough in the field of green hydrogen-based fuels. 

Shanghai Electric will use this project as a catalyst to build a world-leading, full-industry-chain platform for green fuels, to accelerate the development of an integrated industrial ecosystem encompassing green energy, green hydrogen, green methanol and green applications.

The company will continuously improve new energy power generation, water electrolysis for hydrogen production, biomass gasification, carbon capture, green ammonia, and to promote the large-scale application of green fuels in shipping, aviation, chemical industry and other fields.

At a ceremony, Cai Dong, member of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, launched the start of production of the fuel. 

As the first large-scale commercial green methanol project in China, the Taonan project has an annual production capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes in the first phase.

“It is the first green methanol project in China to pass the EU ISCC full-process certification and to market to the international market,” the company said. 

 

Photo credit: Shanghai Electric
Published: 17 July 2025

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Business

Singapore-based Seatrium secures USD 400 mil sustainability-linked revolving credit facility

Credit facility will significantly contribute to Seatrium’s long-term goals of achieving its ESG targets, further bolstering its commitment to sustainable development in the offshore, marine and energy sector.

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RESIZED scott graham

Singapore-headquartered marine engineering firm Seatrium on Tuesday (15 July) said its wholly-owned subsidiary Seatrium Financial Services Pte. Ltd. (SFS) has successfully secured a USD 400 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility with United Overseas Bank (UOB).

This credit facility, anchored in sustainability-linked principles, aligns with Seatrium’s Sustainable Finance Framework and includes revolving credit features which will strongly enhance the Group’s liquidity and financial flexibility. It will significantly contribute to Seatrium’s long-term goals of achieving its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets, further bolstering its commitment to sustainable development in the offshore, marine and energy sector.

Dr Stephen Lu, Seatrium’s Chief Financial Officer, said, “Our continued partnership with UOB marks an important milestone in advancing our financial agility and deepening our commitment to environmental stewardship. By linking our financing framework to clearly defined sustainability targets, we are not only reinforcing accountability but also embedding climate-conscious principles into our capital strategy. This alignment will actively support our decarbonisation goals and longterm value creation.”

Ms Cindy Kong, Managing Director of Group Corporate Banking at UOB, said: “As the global energy transformation accelerates, sustainability-linked financing is playing a crucial role in driving the shift toward decarbonisation. We are proud to partner Seatrium in championing forward-looking initiatives within the global renewable energy segment. Together, we aim to foster innovation while paving the way for responsible and sustainable business growth globally.”

Since 2023, Seatrium has successfully secured over SGD 3 billion in sustainability-linked loans and green financing, further establishing itself as a global provider of sustainable engineering solutions for the offshore, marine, and energy sectors. 

“The Group is steadfast in its commitment to fulfilling its Sustainability Vision 2030, which is centred on empowering clients to minimise their carbon footprints through energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable vessels and offshore platforms.”

 

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 17 July 2025

 

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