Crime

MMEA detains two Malaysia-registered tankers for illegal STS oil transfer

Oil products tanker “MT Tuah Sejagat” was found to be transferring about 400,000 liters of diesel onto tanker “MT Scorpio”, also registered in Malaysia, during an inspection by MMEA.

Published

1 year ago

November 10, 2023

Admin

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (9 November) said two ships suspected of conducting ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer activities were detailed by Selangor State Maritime in Kapar waters on 5 November.

Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director (operations) Maritime Commander Mohd Sharenliza Ghazali said two ships were successfully apprehended at a position of approximately 0.7 nautical miles South West of Kapar at 12.15pm.

During an inspection, Malaysia-registered oil products tanker MT Tuah Sejagat was found to be transferring approximately 400,000 liters of diesel onto tanker MT Scorpio, also registered in Malaysia.

MMEA personnels also found MT Tuah Sejagat was crewed by six Indonesians aged between 29 to 35 while MT Scorpio had nine Indonesian crew members, one from Myanmar and two Malaysians; aged between 20 to 35.

MMEA said among the offenses committed is the failure to present any authorisation document for the STS oil transfer.

Two crew members of MT Tuah Sejagat and two crew members of MT Scorpio ship have been detained and taken to the Selangor State Maritime office for further investigation.

The case will be investigated under the Section 491B of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for illegal transfer of fuel and those found guilty can be fined not more than RM100,000.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 10 November, 2023

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Legal

Shell MGO bunker heist: Bunker clerk gets jail time for helping Sentek acquire misappropriated fuel

Wong Wai Meng was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail on 10 January for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 mt of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million.

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2025

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A bunker clerk, who was previously employed by Sentek Marine & Trading (Sentek), was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million (SGD 18.26 million), The Straits Times reported on Friday (10 January).

Wong Wai Meng, was working for Singapore-based firm Sentek at the time of the offences.

Wong, who received more than USD 286,000 from the company for his assistance, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to 12 counts of intentionally helping the company acquire the misappropriated fuel.

He committed the offences over 46 occasions between August 2014 and December 2017.

Wong is among the three bunker clerks previously employed by Sentek, who were charged for offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

Another bunker clerk among the three charged, Wong Kuin Wah, 61, was sentenced to seven years and six months’ jail on 18 November for his role in misappropriating more than 27,000 tonnes of gas oil worth around USD 12.8 million (SGD 17.2 million).

The third individual who was charged, Boo Pu Wen, reportedly passed away in July 2023 and had his charges abated following his death, meaning Boo’s court proceedings over his 19 charges at the time came to an end.

Former Shell employees, who were key members of a group who dishonestly misappropriated fuel from Shell Pulau Bukom, were sentenced to jail in court earlier.

Earlier coverage of developments by Manifold Times regarding the Shell MGO bunker heist can be found below:

Photo credit: Katrin Bolovtsova
Published: 13 January, 2025

Legal

Greek shipping firms pay total USD 4.5 million over “M/T Kriti Ruby” oil pollution

Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises ordered to pay a criminal fine and community service payment.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 27, 2024

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The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday (23 December) sentenced two Greek shipping companies for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), falsifying records and obstruction of justice.

The charges arose out of two United States port calls in which crew members of the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby presented false records to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conceal illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water from the vessel.

As part of the plea, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises were ordered to pay a criminal fine of $3,375,000 and a $1,125,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Both companies were also sentenced to serve five-year terms of probation during which they will be subject to environmental compliance plans with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.

The companies pleaded guilty and were sentenced for violating APPS in May and September 2022 during port calls by the Kriti Ruby to Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sewaren Terminal of the port of Newark, New Jersey, respectively. The companies also pleaded guilty and were sentenced for falsification of records and obstruction of justice in connection with the September 2022 port call.

The Kriti Ruby’s former chief engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis, was sentenced on 23 December to time served and a USD 5,000 fine after previously pleading guilty to charges related to the discharge of oily waste into the sea — including concealing the pollution by falsifying records — from the Kriti Ruby near the petroleum terminal in Sewaren, New Jersey. Second engineer Sonny Bosito was sentenced to time served for concealing pollution by falsifying records.

“Prioritising profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea and working to cover up that pollution is illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to enforcing the law and fighting against maritime pollution.”

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Philippe Variot
Published: 27 December 2024

Legal

China: 66 suspects caught over alleged stealing of marine fuel during bunkering ops

Group stolen more than 10,000 mt of fuel worth over RMB 53 million arrested in September, said police.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 26, 2024

Admin

Editor's note [31 December 2024]: Photo updated.

China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a six-month campaign in April 2024 to combat theft and smuggling on the Yangtze River's waterways, resolving resolved more than 300 criminal cases involving RMB 320 million (USD 43.8 million), reported China Daily.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (24 December), Luo Ji, an official with the public security management department of the Ministry of Public Security, highlighted enforcement personnel solving a major case involving alleged marine fuel theft during the third quarter of 2024.

In September, authorities caught 66 suspects for allegedly stealing marine fuel during bunkering operations. Police said the group had stolen more than 10,000 metric tonnes of fuel worth over RMB 53 million (USD 7.3 million).

Mr Luo, meanwhile, also said police launched another campaign dubbed "Safe Yangtze River 2024" during February to combat against illegal fishing, sand mining, theft and smuggling along the Yangtze River.

The campaign solved more than 5,200 criminal cases and dismantled over 710 criminal organizations.

Source: China Daily
Photo credit: Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security
Published: 26 December 2024