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Singapore: Helmsman to hold ‘Masterclass’ on commodity trading contracts at SMU Law Academy

Course includes topics on valid and binding transactions; quality or quantity disputes; shipping issues; contract termination; claims; insolvency and others. Registration closes 25 February 2021.

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Singapore-based specialist international shipping and commodity law firm Helmsman LLC is organising a Masterclass on commodity trading contracts at the SMU Law Academy in March 2021.

The Masterclass is designed for experienced commodity trading personnel (legal, credit, risk, compliance, traders and operations) interested in developing a deeper understanding and higher level of expertise in commodity trading contracts.

Participants should have at least an intermediate level (3 years and up) of experience in commodity trading.

“Commodity trading law is fast emerging as a specialist practice. This area of law is particularly important to Singapore, being a major international commodity trading hub,” a Helmsman spokeswoman told Manifold Times.

“The commodity trading contract is a vital document for commodity traders. Often, it determines who makes and who loses money when things go wrong. It is a complex document and its implications are often overlooked.”

The six-hour course will be taught by class-leading commodities trading specialist lawyers – Ian Teo (Managing Director, Helmsman LLC) and Chen Zhida (Associate Director, Helmsman LLC) – who will share real life case studies and experience to illustrate the practical application of commodities trading law.

The one-day course is seminar-based and revolve around hypothetical problems based on real life cases discussed in an interactive setting.

The issues which will be discussed in-depth include:

  • When is a valid and binding transaction concluded? This issue is especially important in a volatile market. Traders are often faced with a situation where counterparties try to renege on a deal when the prices fall or rise rapidly. How can traders protect themselves and achieve certainty?
  • What happens if there is a quality or quantity disputes? Issues relating to final and binding analysis, and evidence collection. – Payment terms and security – examining risks in unsecured trade, letters of credit issues and how to “secure” the payment
  • Shipping issues – laycan, delivery period and various INCOTERMS
  • When can you terminate a contract? This issue often arises in a rapidly rising or falling market. Can a trader validly terminate a contract in order to take advantage of the volatile market?
  • How much money can you claim when the other trader breaches the contract? This is a complicated area of the law – we will also examine what kind of losses can be claimed and whether hedging losses can be included.
  • Insolvency of the other trader – how do you protect yourself against insolvency risk?

Details of the Legal Issues in Commodity Trading Contracts course:

Date: 4 March 2021
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Venue: Singapore Management University School of Law
Practise Area: Admiralty Practice / Shipping
Training Level: Advanced
Registration: 25 February 2021 (Last day)

Note: Interested participants may register through the link here.

 

Published: 5 February, 2021

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China: Yangpu records 27% on year increase in bunkering volumes from Jan to May

Latest bunker supplier at Yangpu port is Hainan Luhai Energy which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

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The Port of Yangpu located in Hainan Island recorded a 27% on year increase in bonded bunkering volume for the period between January to May 2025 due to local government initiatives, according to Danzhou Municipal People’s Government on 5 July.

During the five-month period, the port supplied 149,400 metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel to 288 international vessels, compared to 117,400 mt of marine fuel to 278 ships in the year before.

Explaining the 2025 figures, the government pointed out 145,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel to 275 vessels were delivered by bunkering firms under national licenses, while 4,000 mt of bonded marine fuel were sent by bunkering companies under Hainan licenses.

To date, there are four bunker suppliers operating at Yangpu port. The latest to join is Luhai Energy Technology Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd (陆海能源科技发展(海南)有限公司) which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

“In the future, we will continue to work hard to continuously optimise the bonded oil refuelling service system, increase policy publicity and promotion efforts, attract more bonded oil refuelling companies to settle in Yangpu, and continuously expand the scale of business, and promote the implementation of the bonded oil refuelling policy,” stated Li Leiming, a mid-level employee of the Yangpu Investment Promotion Bureau.

 

Photo credit: Chuanhaozi under Creative Commons Licences
Published: 14 July 2025

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Singapore retains ranking as world’s top maritime centre for 12th consecutive year

Finds report jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency.

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Singapore bunker tankers and sky

Singapore on Friday (11 July) said it has retained its ranking as the world’s top maritime centre, marking the 12th consecutive year it has led the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index.

Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index provides an independent benchmarking of the world’s leading maritime hubs.

It evaluates factors such as cargo throughput, port infrastructure, maritime services (including finance, law and shipbroking), and the overall business environment.

The index is closely monitored by shipping lines, port investors, and maritime service providers to track market competitiveness, and inform investment location and service development decisions.

Singapore retained its top position among 43 maritime cities and regions, underpinned by its consistent performance as one of the world’s busiest transhipment and bunkering hubs, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services and expertise.

In 2024, Singapore handled 41.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput – a record high – and saw total vessel arrival tonnage exceed 3 billion gross tons. The Port of Singapore also remains the world’s largest bunkering port, having supplied 54.92 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2024.

Home to more than 200 international shipping groups and a growing number of maritime technology start-ups, Singapore continues to strengthen its position as a global node for maritime innovation and enterprise.

This growing industry base is also creating new career pathways in areas such as port operations, digital systems management, automation, maritime law, and sustainability – as the sector transforms to meet the needs of a more digital and decarbonised future.

“We thank our industry partners, the research and enterprise community, and our unions who have been instrumental in Singapore’s journey to become a leading international maritime centre and global hub port,” said Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“We will continue to build on this momentum by innovating and investing in digitalisation, green technologies, and workforce development to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted and future-ready international maritime centre.”

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 July 2025

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“LNG London” marks 1,000 safe LNG bunkering ops in Rotterdam and Antwerp

Milestone is a tribute to the technical expertise and steadfast dedication of LNG London’s team, states Victrol.

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The LNG London, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel chartered by Shell, owned by LNG Shipping, and operated by Victrol recently completed over 1,000 safe LNG bunkering operations across the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.

“This landmark achievement underscores LNG London’s unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship as LNG rises to prominence as a lower-emission marine fuel compared to conventional fuel oil,” stated Victrol on Friday (11 July) over a LinkedIn update.

“With this milestone, LNG London reaffirms its pioneering role in promoting sustainable, lower-emission bunkering throughout the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) hub.”

Launched in June 2019, LNG London has a capacity of 3,000 m³, spans 110 m in length, and navigates inland waterways with ease—facilitating efficient LNG supply to both seagoing vessels and barges offshore-energy.

Victrol as the vessel’s operator, emphasises the outstanding performance of the crew and the vessel’s robust design. Built with stringent safety specifications, LNG London strives to maintain high operational standards. This milestone is a tribute to the team’s technical expertise and steadfast dedication.

Building on the good work of LNG London, Shell had also enhanced its bunkering network with the larger Energy Stockholm, an 8,000 m³ bunker vessel, now operating in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Amsterdam.

Related: Europe: ‘LNG London’ bunkering vessel starts operations at Rotterdam
Related: “LNG London” conducts first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Rotterdam
Related: Bureau Veritas classifies Europe’s largest inland waterway LNG bunker barge
Related: Europe’s largest LNG bunkering barge on maiden voyage to ARA
Related: Shell takes delivery of Europe’s largest inland LNG bunkering vessel

 

Photo credit: Victrol
Published: 14 July 2025

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