The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday (30 July) said a company and its 49-year-old male director will be charged in court on 31 July for their alleged involvement in providing flag registration services to a vessel that contravened United Nationals regulations. 

Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed that on 18 May 2022, the company provided flag registration services in respect of bulk carrier PETREL 8. 

The vessel had been designated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 3 October 2017, pursuant to Resolutions UN S/RES/2317 (2017) and UN S/RES/2375 (2017), for transporting prohibited items from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). 

“At the material time, it is alleged that the company director had reasonable grounds to believe that PETREL 8 was a UNSC-designated vessel involved in transporting prohibited items from the DPRK when the flag registration services were provided,” SPF said in a statement. 

The company will be charged with one count under Regulation 8D(d)(ii) of the United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010. The company director will be charged with one count under Regulation 8D(d)(ii) read with Regulation 13(a) of the same Regulations, for abetting the company to commit the offence.

The offence under the United Nations Act 2001 for contravening these Regulations carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to SGD 500,000 (USD 389,414) for an individual. In the case for a company, the offence carries a fine of up to SGD 1 million. 

The United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010 under the United Nations Act 2001 gives effect to sanctions imposed by the UNSC on the DPRK to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

This includes prohibitions against the provision of services for vessels where there are reasonable grounds to believe the vessels are or were involved in activities that support the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the DPRK. Singapore takes its international obligations under UNSC Resolutions seriously and is committed to implementing them fully. The Police will not hesitate to take action against any individual or entity that breaches Singapore’s laws and regulations. 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 July, 2026

Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Pantazis L was arrested in Singapore waters on Thursday (23 July).

The vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system. 

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 9.27pm and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP. The ship is currently held at Eastern Special Purpose Anchorage A – Grid 5717D. 

No details were provided in the list regarding the reason behind the arrest.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Owen Pereira
Published: 28 July, 2026

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Friday (24 July) seized a tanker anchoring without permission in Selangor waters during an enforcement operation carried out on 23 July.

Selangor MMEA director Maritime Capt Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the tanker was seized at around 3.35 pm about 8.8 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan during a routine patrol.

“The investigation revealed that the tanker was operated by a 60-year-old Vietnamese captain along with 13 crew members, consisting of 12 Vietnamese and one Myanmar national aged between 20 and 51 years. All of them were found to have valid travel documents,” he said.

The ship’s captain failed to produce any document authorising anchoring and is suspected of committing offence under Section 491B (1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. 

A detention order was issued for the tanker, while the captain and the chief engineer were brought to the Selangor MMEA headquarters to assist in further investigations. 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 28 July, 2026