Events

Pacific leaders abstain in vote on ‘weak deal’ on emissions pricing at IMO

Ministers from Republic of Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Republic of Vanuatu, as well as a representative of Republic of Palau, abstained in the outcome of the IMO’s MEPC 83 negotiations.

Published

1 year ago

April 14, 2025

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Pacific leaders abstain in vote on ‘weak deal’ on emissions pricing at IMO

Ministers from the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Vanuatu, as well as a representative of the Republic of Palau, abstained in the outcome of the IMO’s MEPC 83 negotiations, refusing to support an agreement that would do too little, too late to cut shipping emissions and protect their islands, according to Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST) on Saturday (12 April).

The Pacific and their allies, including the Seychelles, Caribbean, African and Central American states, and the UK, had put forward a proposal for a universal levy on greenhouse gas emissions. This proposal would have created a pathway to steeply reduce shipping emissions, ensure a just and equitable transition, and provide predictable financing for those suffering the most from climate impacts.

Pacific leaders and negotiators expressed deep disappointment in the outcome.

Explaining the decision to abstain on the final deal, Hon. Manasseh Maelanga, Solomon Islands’ Minister of Infrastructure Development, said: “We cannot support an outcome that does not live up to the agreed strategy. We will seek to improve this deal that unchanged will cause greater instability, and force shipping to continue polluting – that we can not accept.”

Minister Simon Kofe, Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation, agreed : “We came as climate vulnerable countries—with the greatest need and the clearest solution. And what did we face? Weak alternatives from the world’s biggest economies—alternatives that won’t get us on a pathway to the 1.5°C temperature limit. They asked us to settle for less, while we are the ones losing the most. We will not negotiate away our future.”

Hon. Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy, and Disaster Management of Vanuatu placed blame on a range of parties:

“Let us be clear about who has abandoned 1.5°C. Saudi Arabia, the US and fossil fuel allies pushed down the numbers to an untenable level and blocked progress at every turn. These countries – and others – failed to support a set of measures that would have gotten the shipping industry onto a 1.5°C pathway. And they turned away a proposal for a reliable source of revenue for those of us in dire need of finance to help with climate impacts.”

Minister Antony Derjacques of the Seychelles, said: “The developing countries with the greatest need came here and offered a solution. How can the other major economies ask us to take a weak deal home to our people, who are suffering as a result of the climate crisis? And how can they take it back to their own constituents?”

“We were fighting not only for our countries’ economic interests, but also for the safety of our people and our homes,” said Hon. Minister Kendall, Minister of Transportation, Communication and Information Technology of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. “We couldn’t take home the outcome that was given to us as a take-or-leave option – with rich countries asking us to pay for their technological transition while leaving us behind.”

The Pacific will return to MEPC in October.

“We are not done. We will be back,” said Ambassador Ishoda. “Alongside our friends from the Caribbean, the Pacific, Africa, Central America, and the UK. Still standing. Still steering.”

Photo credit: Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport
Published: 14 April, 2025

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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.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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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.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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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

LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026