Legal

Singapore: Straits Bunkering a step closer in securing SGD 8 million bunker spill liability ceiling

Remaining claims to be compensated by International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992 which has a much higher limit of SGD 362 million.

Published

1 month ago

August 7, 2024

Admin

Singapore bunker supplier Straits Bunkering and QBE Insurance (Singapore), which uses the brand name British Marine, has taken a step closer in securing liability limitation from a recent bunker spill involving Marine Honour (IMO 9422811).

PSA Corporation will not be to contesting the right for Straits Bunkering and British Marine to limit their liability, showed documents obtained from the court by Manifold Times.

The latest development paves way for Straits Bunkering and British Marine to limit their liability, whereby a ceiling of 4,510,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) valued at approximately SGD 8 million will be deposited by QBE Insurance into a local bank account.

Claims exceeding the liability limitation of Straits Bunkering, owner of bunker tanker Marine Honour, will meanwhile be made against International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992 which has a much higher limit of SGD 362 million.

Singapore is a Party to both the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC) and the 1992 Fund Convention. It has been confirmed that the oil from the vessel is persistent and that the Marine Honour falls within the definition of ‘ship’ under those Conventions. Therefore, both the 1992 CLC and Fund Convention apply to this incident.

Under the 1992 CLC, the shipowner has strict liability for any pollution damage caused by the oil, i.e. the owner is liable even if there was no fault on the part of the ship or its crew. However, the shipowner has the right to limit its financial liability to an amount that is determined by the tonnage of the ship.

The 1992 Fund Convention provides a second tier of compensation when full compensation for the pollution damage cannot be obtained from the shipowner, or valid claims exceed the shipowner’s limit. Claimants may be individuals, partnerships, companies, private organisations or public bodies, including States or local authorities.

On 30 July, IOPC Funds and British Marine, insurer of Marine Honour, opened a Claims Submission Office to facilitate the submission of claims for compensation by those affected by the oil pollution damage resulting from the incident, which occurred at Pasir Panjang Terminal, Singapore on 14 June 2024.

Note: Lawyers from Helmsman LLC are representing Straits Bunkering and QBE Insurance (Singapore), while PSA Corporation is represented by lawyers from Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.

Published: 7 August 2024

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Vessel Arrest

Singapore: Indonesian-flagged tanker “SC Explorer LIII” placed under Sheriff’s arrest

Vessel was arrested at 1.10am on 12 September and is currently held at Western Petroleum Anchorage B; arresting solicitor was law firm Incisive Law LLC.

Published

3 hours ago

September 13, 2024

Admin

Indonesian-flagged tanker “SC Explorer LIII”

An Indonesian-flagged oil products tanker, SC Explorer LIII, was arrested in Singapore waters on Thursday (12 September).

The vessel, previously named British Explorer, was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system.

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 1.10am and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Incisive Law LLC. The ship is currently held at Western Petroleum Anchorage B.

No details regarding the reason behind the arrest were provided in the list.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Ivan Meshkov
Published: 13 September, 2024

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators arrange creditors meeting for Vanda Marine Services

Meeting will be held at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #05-40 Paya Lebar Square Singapore 409051 on 20 September at 3pm, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2024

Admin

A meeting for creditors of shipping and chartering services provider Vanda Marine Services Pte Ltd, which is in voluntary liquidation, has been scheduled to take place on 20 September, according to a Government Gazette notice on Tuesday (10 September).

The meeting will be held at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #05-40 Paya Lebar Square Singapore 409051 at 3pm.

The agenda of the meeting will be as follows:

To receive a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Company; and
To consider appointing a person to be the liquidator in place of the liquidator appointed by the Company.

Notes:

A creditor who wishes to obtain information concerning the affairs of the Company, may request by email to the liquidator’s office at: [email protected].
The creditors may, at the abovementioned meeting, appoint a person to be the liquidator for the purpose of winding up the affairs and distributing the assets of the company in place of the liquidator appointed by the Company.
The proxy must be lodged with the liquidator not later than 12.00pm on 19 September 2024 if you wish to attend the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 11 September, 2024

Vessel Arrest

Singapore: Vietnam-flagged tanker “GT Unity” placed under Sheriff’s arrest again

Ship was added to list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system and it is currently held at Raffles Reserved Anchorage; arrest was made on behalf of Resource Law LLC.

Published

4 days ago

September 10, 2024

Admin

Vietnam-flagged oil and chemical tanker GT Unity was arrested for the third time in Singapore waters on Thursday (5 September).

The 7,631 DWT vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system.

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 10.45am and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Resource Law LLC. The ship is currently held at Raffles Reserved Anchorage.

No further details regarding the reason behind the arrest were provided in the list.

Manifold Times previously reported GT Unity was arrested in the republic on 6 December, 11 October and 10 March last year.