Business

Shell MGO bunker heist: Intertek, Inspectorate cargo surveyors plead guilty, jailed between four to eight months

Anand S/O Omprekas, Noruliman Bin Bakti, and Muhammad Khairul Asri Bin Mohamad Hanafiah were tasked to verify the quantity of cargo supplied to vessels by Shell Eastern Petroleum Private Limited.

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2022

Admin

The State Courts of the Republic of Singapore on Thursday (26 May) issued jail sentences ranging between four to eight months to a total three cargo surveyors from Intertek Testing Services Pte Ltd (Intertek) and Inspectorate Singapore Pte Ltd (Inspectorate) due to their involvement in the Shell MGO bunker heist.

Anand S/O Omprekas and Noruliman Bin Bakti were both surveyors employed by Intertek while Muhammad Khairul Asri Bin Mohamad Hanafiah worked for Inspectorate when the offences involving corruption were commited, according to court documents obtained by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

The group were tasked to verify the quantity of cargo supplied to vessels in Singapore by suppliers such as Shell Eastern Petroleum Private Limited (Shell).

They would board the vessels to check on the quantity of the cargo loaded into the nominated and non-nominated tanks of the vessels, before and after the loading of the cargo to the vessels was completed.

After conducting the inspections, the surveyors must prepare ullage reports which stated accurately the amount of cargo loaded onto the vessels. These ullage reports would be submitted to their respective survey firms and Shell.

Anand S/O Omprekas – Six months imprisonment and penalty of SGD 20,000 (effective 26 May 2022)

Anand was found to have accepted gratification of a total SGD 10,000 from Juandi bin Pungot and Muzaffar Ali Khan bin Muhamad Akram over five occasions in 2014 while under the employment of Intertek.

Under Juandi and Muzaffar’s instructions, Anand did not accurately report the amount of cargo loaded onto vessels which Intertek was engaged to inspect.

In 2016, when Anand was a surveyor of CCIC Singapore Pte Ltd (CCIC), he continued to receive money from Muzaffar in exchange for falsifying the amount of cargo loaded onto vessels which CCIC was engaged to inspect while keeping quiet about the misappropriation of gasoil taking place at Shell Pulau Bukom.

As a result of Anand’s assistance in concealing the misappropriation of gasoil, two incidents of misappropriation of Shell gasoil (worth USD 668,152.16) went undetected by Shell in 2016.

Noruliman Bin Bakti – Eight months imprisonment and penalty of USD 25,000 (effective 4 July 2022)

Noruliman accepted total gratification of USD 15,000 from an Intertek colleague over three occasions between 2014 and 2015 for not accurately reporting the amount of cargo loaded onto vessels which Intertek was engaged to inspect.

In 2016, when Noruliman became a surveyor of CCIC, he continued his arrangement with Muzaffar to receive money from him to inaccurately report the amount of cargo loaded onto vessels which CCIC was engaged to inspect while keeping quiet about the misappropriation of gasoil taking place at Shell Pulau Bukom.

As a result of his assistance in concealing the activity, one incident of misappropriation of Shell gasoil (worth USD 239,958.60) went undetected by Shell in 2016.

Noruliman was also found to be working with Anand in two incidents of misappropriation of Shell gasoil (mentioned above).

Muhammad Khairul Asri Bin Mohamad Hanafiah – Four months imprisonment and penalty of USD 6,000 (effective 27 June 2022)

Khairul was found to have accepted total gratification of USD 6,000 from Juandi and Muzaffar over two occasions between 2016 and 2017 for inaccurately reporting the amount of cargo loaded onto vessels which Inspectorate was engaged to inspect.

As a result of Khairul’s assistance in concealing the misappropriation of gasoil, two incidents of misappropriation of Shell gasoil (worth USD 1,408,881.57) went undetected by Shell in 2016 and 2017.

Manifold Times in April reported a group of 12 surveyors being charged in Court for corruption offences in connection to the conspiracy to misappropriate oil from the Shell Pulau Bukom site. Altogether, the 12 individuals allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000 between 2014 to 2017.

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: 30 May, 2022

Bunker Fuel

China: Zhoushan to host 7th IPEC commodities, bunker conferences on 16 to 17 October

Global marine bunker development will be among main topics of discussion at the 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference (IPEC).

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2024

Admin

China: Zhoushan to host 7th IPEC commodities, bunker conferences on 16 to 17 October

The 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference (IPEC) is taking place at Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China between 16 to 17 October.

The agenda, provided by the Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee to foreign event media partner Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times, is as follows:

16 October

Registration and sign-in for participating guests
Meetings between Zhejiang Provincial and Zhoushan Municipal leaders with VIPs

17 October

Morning

Plenary Session of the Conference (Oriental Hall, Zhoushan International Conference Center)

Leader’s speech, guest keynote speech, signing of major projects

Discussion Topics [*17 October, 2pm to 5pm]

Focus Topic Meeting: Global marine bunker development*
Location: Haitian Hall, Haizhongzhou International Hotel, Zhoushan

14:00-14:05 - Opening of the Meeting

14:05-14:15 - Speech by Leaders

14:15-14:30 - Announcement of "Top Ten Global Bunkering Ports" and "Top Ten Global Bunkering Companies"

14:30-14:40 - Announcement of Construction Work of Northeast Asia Bonded Marine Fuel Bunkering Hub

14:40-14:50 – Launch ceremony of Zhoushan "White-list" Bunker Barge Mass Flow Meter System Pilot Certification Programme

14:50-15:10 - Signing Ceremony

15:10-16:10 - Keynote speech

16:10-16:35 - Coffee break

16:35-17:05 - Roundtable forum (Topic: Facing green and low-carbon transformation in global shipping, how do marine fuels change in response to the trend?)

17:05-17:35 - Roundtable forum (Topic: The road to develop high-quality offshore fuel bunkering metering under the new developments)

17:35-17:40 - Moderator’s summary

Utilising financial innovation, futures and spot cooperation to promote the construction of a hub for the allocation of bulk commodity resources*
Location: Putuo Hall, Zhoushan International Conference Center

Open development of global shipping trade*
Location: Donghai Hall, Hilton Zhoushan

International iron ore trade development*
Location: Banquet Hall 1/3, The Westin Zhujiajian Resort, Zhoushan

Development of China's new chemical materials industry during the “15th Five-Year Plan”*
Location: Banquet Hall 1/3, The Westin Zhujiajian Resort, Zhoushan

Development of non-ferrous metal mining industry*
Location: Lianhua Ocean Hall, Hilton Zhoushan

16 and 17 October
International maritime law of the free trade port (zone)
Location: Fortune Hall, Zhoushan CaiFu Hotel

Photo credit: Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 11 October, 2024

Alternative Fuels

SIBCON 2024: Vitol anticipates securing LNG bunker licence in Singapore

‘It would be unthinkable not to deploy at least one of the three barges Vitol has on order in Singapore,’ says Vitol’s Head of Asia Mike Muller during a panel discussion.

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: Vitol anticipates securing LNG bunker licence in Singapore

Energy trader Vitol’s Head of Asia Mike Muller on Wednesday (9 October) said the company is anticipating being granted a LNG bunker licence in Singapore soon.

“It would be unthinkable not to deploy at least one of the three barges Vitol has on order in Singapore,” he said.

Mike Muller made the announcement during the Viewing the Energy Transition Through the Lens panel discussion at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).

“We expect to see growth in LNG use as a bunker fuel for at least another decade, and probably longer,” he added.

On the increasing uptake of biofuels, he said Vitol is seeing demand for biofuel blended bunkers in Singapore roughly doubling every year at the moment, heading for around 1 million mt this year and maybe 2 million mt next year.

“Demand for 100% biofuel from shipping customers is also starting to pick up as of this year and we have led the way in commissioning new IMO type 2 barges to fulfil this demand - indeed an important Asian customer of ours has taken three deliveries of B100 UCOME biofuel just in recent weeks here in Singapore,” Muller explained.

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 11 October, 2024

Bunker Fuel

SIBCON 2024: Bunker players sign SCMA pledge to drive progress within Maritime Singapore

Bunker players involved include Consort Bunkers, Equatorial Marine Fuel, Golden Island, Hong Lam Marine, Kenoil Marine Services, Marubeni International Petroleum and Sinopec Fuel Oil.

Published

3 days ago

October 11, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: Bunker players sign SCMA pledge to drive progress within Maritime Singapore

Some 10 bunker players on Tuesday (8 October) signed a pledge with Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON).

The bunker players involved are Consort Bunkers Pte Ltd, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd, Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers (S) Pte Ltd, Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd, Golden Island Pte Ltd, Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd, Kenoil Marine Services Pte Ltd, Marubeni International Petroleum (S) Pte Ltd, Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore) Pte ltd and Victory Pte Ltd.

SCMA and the pledgees will work together to promote and enhance the capabilities and opportunities within the Maritime Singapore community and ecosystem.

Among the aspirational goals embodied by the SCMA Pledge is that the pledgees give preferential consideration, where appropriate, for the use of the SCMA Arbitration Rules for the resolution of their maritime or international trade disputes.

The bunker players may also use its best endeavours to support the Maritime Singapore community and ecosystem, including contributing to the development and dissemination of best practices as well as providing support and opportunity to young maritime legal and dispute resolution professionals in the form of internships, mentorships, and educational seminars aimed at fostering the next generation of maritime leaders.

SCMA, a specialist arbitration institution, is the only arbitration institution in Singapore focused on maritime and international trade disputes.

It offers the maritime and international trade sectors a set of arbitration rules and guidelines which are flexible and cost effective.

Users of SCMA arbitration include maritime companies, international traders and commodity companies for the resolution of their disputes such as those involving charterparty, bunker, commercial sales, cargo, oil and gas, shipbuilding and ship repair.

Photo credit: Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration
Published: 11 October, 2024