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Singapore bunkering sector enters new chapter with first LNG dual fuelled tanker

The General Manager of Sinanju Tankers speaks with Manifold Times to explain its rational for building the first LNG-fuelled bunkering vessel in Singapore.
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Singapore-based bunkering firm Sinanju Tankers Holdings (Sinanju) and project partner Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) (Mitsui AP) placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powered bunker tanker with Keppel Singmarine on Monday.

The development was based on a decision to support Singapore’s direction to be a global maritime hub for connectivity, innovation and talent as part of its Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, says the General Manager of Sinanju.

“This vessel will be utilised to train crew on LNG handling procedures and safety,” Desmond Chong told Manifold Times in an interview.

“Operating this bunker tanker will add impetus for our staff and crew to familiarise themselves with the Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56:2017) and more importantly, the safe and efficient handling of LNG when re-fuelling this vessel.

“We will be in good stead when embarking in ship-to-ship LNG bunkering as our next milestone.”

The 7,990 dwt bunkering vessel, Singapore’s first, will be powered mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to deliver marine fuels to ocean-going vessels within local port limits. It is capable of delivering a variety of bunker fuels, with the exception of LNG, to receiving ships.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in October 2016 launched the LNG bunkering pilot programme with a budget of SGD $12 million to test operational protocols, gain operational experience and beef up Singapore’s capabilities in the areas of LNG bunkering. 

In December 2017, it injected another SGD $12 million of funds to boost the development of LNG bunkering operations at Singapore; half of it has been set aside to co-fund the building of new LNG bunkering vessels while the remaining will be used to support the construction of LNG-fuelled vessels at Singapore.

The funds have been helpful in financing Sinanju’s latest newbuilding project; however, more needs to be done if the company were to take the next step of constructing a specialised bunkering vessel capable of delivering LNG as a marine fuel.

“MPA’s grant of up to SGD $3 million to build a LNG bunkering vessel is very much appreciated; but for now, when the price of a LNG newbuild is at two to three times the cost of a normal bunker tanker, it is simply too huge an investment hurdle for a small enterprise like ourselves to undertake,” says Chong.

“As the world’s largest bunkering port, we support MPA’s multi-pronged approach to position Singapore as a world leader in providing access to clean fuels such as LNG across key shipping routes.

“However, without clear direction from shipowners on their fuel requirements from 2020 onwards, and no indication by LNG-powered vessels on their LNG bunker volumes – and if at all to call at Singapore for LNG bunker, we have been forced to take a hard look at the commercial justification of investing in LNG bunkering vessels at this current moment.”

Moving on, Chong believes Sinanju’s newbuild dual fuel powered bunkering vessel will be able to meet the fuel delivery requirements of its clients at Singapore port.

“We see a trend in oil companies encouraging and promoting the use of LNG in the shipping industry as a clean alternative fuel,” he says.

“We thus believe that such a LNG-powered vessel would be aligned to our clients’ (namely the oil majors and independent suppliers) requirements for their use.”

Photo credit: Sinanju Tankers Holdings
Published: 10 April, 2018

 

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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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