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Singapore: Yangzijiang Shipping to be wound up over excess USD 4.8 million newbuilding quality claim

Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.

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The General Division of The High Court of the Republic of Singapore on Friday (17 March) issued a winding up order against Yangzijiang Shipping Pte. Ltd. (YSPL) due to a compensation claim in excess of USD 4.8 million from Liberia-based Trinity Seatrading S.A. (Trinity). Trinity was represented by Singapore-based multi-disciplinary law firm Helmsman LLC.

Trinity on 20 December 2018 agreed to purchase a 157,000 dwt oil tanker from a group of Chinese firms namely YSPL, Jiangsu Tianchen Marine Import & Export Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (the sellers), according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.

Technical dispute arises to London arbitration and award

Disputes related to the vessel’s construction arose and the parties proceeded to arbitration, culminating in a 10-day hearing from 20 June 2022 in London under London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Terms 2017.

On 18 July 2022, the tribunal awarded the return of a USD 12 million [exact: USD 12,127,500] deposit and damages of USD 3.25 million plus interest to Trinity.

Transfer of YSPL subsidiaries to BVI-incorporated firm

Between August to September 2022, YSPL transferred shares of at least 40 subsidiaries to Pleasant Way Analyse Development Limited (Pleasant Way), a British Virgin Island-incorporated firm owned by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd.

On 23 September 2022, Agricultural Bank of China performing the role of Refund Guarantor returned the USD 12 million deposit to Trinity; however, the sellers have not paid damages in excess of USD 3.25 million and the interest awarded to Trinity to date.

In light of the sellers’ non-payment, on 7 October 2022, Helmsman LLC representing Trinity issued a Statutory Demand on YSPL in Singapore claiming for total USD 4.8 million [exact: USD 4,838,908.11].

Sellers file cross-claim against Trinity, DNV and LISCR in PRC court

The sellers on 21 October 2022, meanwhile, filed a civil complaint against Trinity, Det Norske Veritas (China) Company (DNV), and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry LLC (LISCR) with the Nanjing Maritime Court in the People’s Republic of China.

They alleged, amongst others, that Trinity conspired with DNV and LISCR to prevent the issuance of a Class Certificate and Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate. The claim was for exactly the same amount as the sum demanded by Trinity in the Statutory Demand.

In response, Trinity obtained an interim anti-suit injunction (ASI) from the London Commercial Court on 17 November 2022 to restrain the sellers from proceeding against Trinity at the Nanjing Maritime Court.

As a result, the sellers discontinued the Nanjing Maritime Court proceedings against Trinity. The Nanjing Maritime Court later added Trinity as a ‘third party’ to the PRC Civil Complaint. The hearing is currently pending.

Singapore court grants winding up order to Trinity

YSPL did not make payment of the sum demanded by Trinity in the Statutory Demand. As there was no dispute that the debt was owing and unpaid, and there was no cross-claim by YSPL against Trinity, Trinity applied for a winding up order to be made against YSPL. The winding up application came up for a hearing before the Singapore High Court on 17 March, and the Judge issued a winding up order against YSPL.

Related: Singapore: High Court to hear Yangzijiang Shipping winding up application on 20 January
Related: Singapore: Helmsman celebrates firm’s strategic transformation with formation of five new practice groups
Related: Helmsman evolves into multi-disciplinary law firm; expands Singapore and Hong Kong practices to meet growing demand

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 23 March, 2023

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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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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

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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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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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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