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Panama Maritime Authority denies alleged concession for exclusive sale of bunkers

AMP clarified it authorised the operation of the Panama Cruise Terminal to the company Colón 2000 for the reception of cruise ships and their passengers only.
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The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) on Tuesday (6 December) denied recent publications in which reference is made to an alleged concession for the exclusive sale of bunkers to vessels that use the facilities of the Panama Cruise Port.

“We clarify to the country that the Panama Maritime Authority authorised the operation of the Panama Cruise Terminal to the company Colón 2000 for the reception of cruise ships and their passengers, but not the provision of any auxiliary maritime service in particular, given the fact that that the auxiliary maritime services that are offered in the port facilities are contracted directly by the port operator, that is to say that the government has no interference in the selection of the contracting companies for these services,” AMP said. 

AMP also said it should be noted that all companies that provide auxiliary maritime services in the Republic of Panama are authorised through Operation Licenses issued by the General Directorate of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries, which are approved after complying with quality and safety standards established in the current legislation.

According to several Panama-based news outlets, Iria Barrancos Domingo, a maritime lawyer and former president of the Panamanian Association of Maritime Law (Apademar), said: the exclusivity granted to the company Monjasa for the bunkering of cruise ships in the cruise ports of Amador and Colón, by the company Colón 2000, with the apparent endorsement of AMP, has been classified as an unfair practice“that threatens free competition”, in accordance with the law and the Constitution.”

Domingo added the fact that the concessionaire (in this case Colón 2000) is authorised to provide the fuel supply service and lubricants in the concession contract, cannot be understood as a grant of exclusivity and, therefore, cannot prevent users from contracting services from third parties that meet the requirements established by the National Secretariat of Energy, which is the sole governing body. of the energy sector, such as hydrocarbons, oil, and its derivatives.

When contacted, a company spokesperson from Monjasa told Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times: “Monjasa has earned its place to fuel global shipping through our high quality operations and we welcome competition at a level playing field. We thereby also invite everyone who meets the established operational requirements to compete at equal terms as it will only further improve our industry and ultimately benefit the end customer.”

“As an example, this could be anything from operating modern and SIRE-vetted tankers, environmental management and demonstrated oil spill response, or how we work with our customers on improving satisfaction year-on-year as part of our ISO-9001 Quality Management System. In our eyes, this is what our industry deserves.”

 

Photo credit: jhernandezb05 from Pixabay
Published: 14 December, 2022

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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.

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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.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

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19 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

  • That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

  • that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
  • that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
  • that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd. 

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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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

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