Business

Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Process Technician received minimum SGD 735,000 in benefits, faces 43 charges

Muhamad Farhan Bin Mohamed Rashid was allegedly involved in charges related to criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and drug offences, according to court documents seen by Manifold Times.

Published

3 years ago

March 31, 2022

Admin

A former Shell Eastern Petroleum employee pleaded guilty to a Judge at the State Courts of the Republic of Singapore on Tuesday (29 March) over charges relating to the misappropriation of marine gas oil (MGO).

Muhamad Farhan Bin Mohamed Rashid faced a total of 43 charges over alleged criminal breach of trust (27 charges), money laundering (13 charges), and drug offences (3 charges), according to court documents seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Farhan was hired around 2010 to facilitate the transfer of petroleum products at the Shell Pulau Bukom manufacturing site where his role was to either be a process technician or control panel operator.

During 2014, he was recruited into the criminal syndicate by co-conspirators Juandi bin Pungot and Muzaffar Ali Khan bin Muhamad Akram to participate in the illegal loading operation of MGO to receiving vessels.

Farhan’s primary role during the incidents of misappropriation was to open and close the bypass valve to facilitate the transfer of misappropriated MGO to bypass the custody transfer meters which would otherwise capture the movement of oil.

He was also responsible for starting the manual operation of pumps from the oil panel inside the Movement Control Room.

Further, he was occasionally tasked to switch off the radars which tracked the volume of oil within the tanks to prevent the data from being reflected in the control panel system.

In total, Farhan assisted the criminal syndicate to misappropriate a total USD 44 million (exact: USD 44,018,727.06), or approximately SGD 60 million (exact: SGD 59,668,526.27), worth of MGO between 2014 and 2016.

He received criminal benefits of at least SGD 735,000 (exact: SGD 735,331.43) through his participation in the offence; investigations recorded Farhan laundering SGD 269,511.43 of his benefits where:

A sum of SGD 44,750 was spent on investing in a unit at Funtasy Island Resort, Capraia Residences, located at Batam, Indonesia between 8 September to 24 October 2014.
A sum of SGD 119,511.43 was used to purchase a Honda Vezel between 5 to 19 August 2016.
Sums of SGD 20,000 and SGD 40,000 were respectively spent on start-up capital for a Halal-Japanese restaurant called Hararu Izakaya Restaurant on February and March 2017.
A sum of SGD 45,250 was used to pay the 5% booking fee in exchange for an option to purchase a property at Grandeur Park Residences in Singapore on 15 March 2017. However, the purchase of the property did not take place due to drug offences.

Farhan is scheduled to appear at the State Courts of the Republic of Singapore for mitigation and sentencing on 26 May.

Note: Court proceedings against other allegedly involved parties, including former employees of Shell Pulau Bukom, are ongoing. A list of earlier developments recorded by Manifold Times are as follows:

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 March, 2022

LNG Bunkering

Japan: MOL’s third LNG-fuelled ferry “Sunflower Kamuy” starts operation in Oarai

“Sunflower Kamuy” will serve the Oarai-Tomakomai route between Ibaraki Prefecture and Hokkaido as a replacement for the Sunflower Daisetsu, says MOL.

Published

24 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Admin

Japan: MOL third LNG-fuelled ferry “Sunflower Kamuy” starts operation in Oarai

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Thursday (23 January) announced that the LNG-fuelled ferry Sunflower Kamuy, owned by MOL and operated by its group company MOL Sunflower, entered service in Oarai.

The vessel will be the third LNG-fuelled ferry operated by MOL Sunflower, following the Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, which have been in service on the Osaka-Beppu route from 2023.

Sunflower Kamuy will serve the Oarai-Tomakomai route between Ibaraki Prefecture and Hokkaido as a replacement for the Sunflower Daisetsu.

Along with the sister vessel Sunflower Pirka, scheduled to enter service in early summer 2025, MOL Sunflower will operate a fleet of four LNG-fuelled ferries on the Oarai-Tomakomai route and the Osaka-Beppu route within 2025.

MOL Sunflower operates 10 ferries and 4 RoRo vessels on six routes throughout Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, providing service for both logistics and passengers in Japan.

Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 24 January, 2025

Winding up

Singapore: Notice of preferential dividend issued for Asia-Pacific Shipyard

Creditors will need to submit proofs to liquidators of Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd by 6 February, according to a Government Gazette notice.

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Admin

A notice of preferential dividend for Otto Marine Limited, which is in liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Friday (9 September).

The following are details of the notice:

Name of Company : Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No./Registration No. : 197300183MAddress of Registered Office : 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095

Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 6 February 2025

Name of Liquidators : Ng Kian Kiat and Yap Hui Li

Address of Liquidators : c/o RSM SG Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd., 8 Wilkie Road #03-08, Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 24 January, 2024

LNG Bunkering

SEA-LNG report: Number of LNG-fuelled vessels in operation up by over 33% in 2024

Based on its latest ‘View from the Bridge’ report, SEA-LNG reported an annual vessel growth of over 33% to 638 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation worldwide in 2024.

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Admin

SEA-LNG report: Number of LNG-fuelled vessels in operation up by over 33% in 2024

Industry coalition SEA-LNG on Thursday (24 January) reported an annual vessel growth of over 33% to 638 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation worldwide in 2024.

This was one of the findings of SEA-LNG’s annual ‘View from the Bridge’ report, highlighting 2024 as another year of growth for the LNG pathway.

Analysing data from SEA-LNG members, the report found that global market adoption and growth reached record heights in 2024.

Looking forward, over 1,200 vessels are expected to be operating by the end of 2028. In 2024, LNG dual-fuelled vessels accounted for 70% of alternative fuelled tonnage ordered, excluding LNG Carriers, up from 43% in 2023.

This record expansion follows the growing availability of LNG bunker fuel beyond the traditional bunkering hubs. Currently, LNG bunkers are accessible in approximately 198 ports worldwide, and plans are underway for bunkering facilities in an additional 78 ports. This comes as over 60 LNG bunkering vessels are operating today, marking a 22% increase from 2023.

The ‘View from the Bridge’ report also highlights how the LNG pathway took a significant step in 2024, with liquified biomethane delivering on decarbonisation and regular renewable e-methane supplies expected in 2026.

SEA-LNG members are prepared to offer biomethane bunkers in some 70 ports globally, with multiple bunkering operations already taking place.

A highlight was the successful biomethane bunkering pilot as part of the Methane Track within the Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC). This was the first practical delivery of any international Green Corridor since they were announced as part of the Clydebank Declaration at COP 26 in Glasgow.

Peter Keller, chairman of SEA-LNG, said: “Our latest View from the Bridge reaffirms the importance of the LNG pathway as a practical and realistic route to shipping’s decarbonisation now. We continue to believe that the shipping industry is heading towards a successful multi-fuel future where LNG will always play a critical role.”

“To deliver net zero by 2050 across the global shipping fleet, a basket of fuels is required and the LNG pathway will continue to lead the way. This is not a case of my fuel versus your fuel but rather which fuel best allows the industry to reach its stated goals. The LNG pathway provides the path to net zero.”

SEA-LNG’s latest report also highlights that 2024 has seen considerable progress in addressing methane slip. “Advances in eliminating methane slip, in combination with biomethane and e-methane, provide a clear, effective, and viable long-term pathway towards net zero emissions. Shipowners and operators can be confident that the vessels ordered today are future-proofed for their lifespan.”

“With a proven track record of technical improvements to reduce methane slip and upstream emissions, coupled with tighter regulations from global and regional authorities, we continue to believe methane slip will be a non-issue by the end of this decade,” Keller continued.

FuelEU Maritime will be a key regulation in advancing shipping industry decarbonisation, heading into 2025. According to analysis from SEA-LNG, FuelEU Maritime creates a favourable environment for the LNG pathway.

With the ability to achieve GHG emissions reductions of up to 23%, LNG-fuelled vessels are compliant until 2039. The use of liquefied biomethane and e-methane can extend compliance through to 2050 and beyond.

Note: The full report is available for download here.

Photo credit: SEA-LNG
Published: 24 January, 2025