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

3 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

FuelEU

FincoEnergies launches pooling service for FuelEU Maritime compliance

FuelEU Pooling service enables undercompliant vessels to meet their compliance targets by pooling with vessels running on GoodFuels sustainable bio bunker fuels.

Published

8 hours ago

April 21, 2025

Admin

GoodFuels biofuel supplier FincoEnergies on Wednesday (16 April) announced the launch of its FuelEU Pooling service, created to enable shipowners to meet FuelEU Maritime compliance in a cost-effective way.

FuelEU Maritime, effective from 1 January 2025, mandates the reduction of greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board ships trading in the EU. For many operators, particularly those with limited access to low-carbon fuels, compliance can be both complex and costly.

Designed for shipowners, operators, charterers, and technical managers, FincoEnergies’ FuelEU Pooling service enables undercompliant vessels to meet their compliance targets by pooling with vessels running on GoodFuels sustainable biofuels, when these vessels are overcompliant and have ‘Surplus’ emission reduction available for allocation.

FincoEnergies also partnered with Lloyd’s Register (LR), who supported the development of the service. Their technical expertise has enabled shaping a solution that aligns with both regulatory requirements and FincoEnergies' established position as a biofuel supplier in the fuel supply chain.

“FuelEU Maritime represents one of the most important regulatory shifts for the shipping industry in decades,” said Alberto Perez, Global Head, Maritime Commercial Markets at LR. “By integrating technical expertise with strategic guidance, we ensure shipowners, operators, and suppliers not only comply with evolving emissions standards, but also proactively transform their operations, embracing new technologies and alternative fuels to ensure a sustainable and profitable future.”

“With a decade of experience in biofuel bunkers and carbon certificate trading in the voluntary market, we are excited to expand our creative and solution-oriented product portfolio with FuelEU Pooling,” said Johannes Schurmann, Commercial Director International Marine at FincoEnergies.

“Thanks to our physical presence in the supply chain, shipping companies looking for FuelEU surplus can confidently rely on us as a trusted partner in their decarbonisation journey.”

Through its role as Pool Organiser, FincoEnergies streamlines the entire pooling process – from performing biofuel bunkers and prefinancing Surplus, to Surplus allocation and pool verification. With cost-effective pricing, FuelEU Pooling provides shipping companies with a competitive alternative for changing their fuel mix themselves.

Photo credit: FincoEnergies
Published: 21 April, 2025

ECA

PO/Marine launches supply of MED ECA-compliant ULSFO bunker fuel

In preparation of the upcoming Mediterranean Emission Control Area regulation, PO/Marine successfully delivered its first supply of ULSFO with 0.10% sulphur content on 15 April.

Published

8 hours ago

April 21, 2025

Admin

Aydın Yıldız, Head of Marine Sales at Petrol Ofisi Group

Petrol Ofisi’s bunkering arm PO/Marine on Thursday (17 April) said it has completed the bunkering operation of ULSFO—a marine fuel with 0.10% sulphur content—in alignment with the upcoming Mediterranean Emission Control Area (MED ECA) regulation.

Under the new regulation, all vessels operating within the Mediterranean must use low-sulphur marine fuels.

Effective 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean will officially be designated as an Emission Control Area (MED ECA), prohibiting the use of marine fuels with sulphur content exceeding 0.10%.

In preparation for this regulatory transition, PO/Marine successfully delivered its first supply of ULSFO (Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) with 0.10% sulphur content on 15 April.

PO/Marine launches supply of MED ECA-compliant ULSFO bunker fuel

Aydın Yıldız, Senior Maritime Manager at Petrol Ofisi Group, said: “Our leadership in the maritime fuel sector is defined not only by our market share but also by the innovative steps we take to shape the industry.

“Successfully completing the supply of marine fuel with 0.10% sulphur content in alignment with the MED ECA transition in Türkiye is a concrete reflection of this. We previously led the way with the country’s first VLSFO bunkering operation, setting a precedent in our sector.

“With our ULSFO bunkering, we have once again demonstrated that we are setting the standard in Türkiye’s marine fuel landscape. The designation of the Mediterranean as an Emission Control Area is not only a regional development but a historic turning point for global maritime operations.”

Photo credit: PO/Marine
Published: 21 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Oilmar completes first ULSFO bunker fuel delivery in Türkiye

Company announced the successful completion of its first ULSFO 0.1% Sulphur delivery in Istanbul and is now offering the marine fuel in several key locations including Istanbul Anchorage and Marmara Sea.

Published

9 hours ago

April 21, 2025

Admin

UAE-based marine fuel and petroleum products trader Oilmar DMCC on Friday (18 April) announced the successful completion of its first ULSFO 0.1% Sulphur delivery in Istanbul, marking one of the very first trades of its kind in the country.

“With this milestone, Oilmar proudly steps forward as one of Türkiye’s pioneering trading companies in ULSFO 0.1% Sulphur fuel,” it said in a social media post.

Oilmar is now offering ULSFO 0.1% across key locations:

Istanbul Anchorage
Marmara Sea
Gulf of Derince
Bozcaada Anchorage
Southern Türkiye Ports

In addition, High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO), Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Ultra-Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO), and Low Sulphur Marine Gasoil (LSMGO) are available at all ports across Türkiye.

Photo credit: Dima Rogachevskiy on Unsplash
Published: 21 April, 2025