Business

Solomon Islands government joins landowners in compensation claim over 2019 oil spill disaster

Considered the biggest environmental disaster in Solomon Islands’ history, grounding of “MV Solomon Trader” and subsequent oil spill caused environmental devastation at Rennell Island, says government.

Published

1 year ago

February 14, 2025

Admin

Solomon Islands government joins landowners in compensation claim over 2019 oil spill disaster

The Solomon Islands government last month stated its support to the landowners of Kangava Bay, East Rennell by joining a compensation claim against international companies responsible for a monumental oil spill in February 2019.

Considered the biggest environmental disaster in Solomon Islands’ history, the grounding of Hong-Kong flagged bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader and the subsequent oil spill caused environmental devastation at Rennell Island.

The vessel reportedly ran aground on 4 February and spilled more than 300 metric tonnes (mt) of heavy fuel oil into the ocean.

“A first-of-its-kind claim in both collaboration and magnitude, the government and landowners have joined as co-claimants to pursue a group of international companies for environmental and other damages,” the government said in a statement.

The compensation claim was filed in the High Court in Honiara on 31 January by the landowners of the Kangava Bay Community East Rennell Island and the Attorney General on behalf of the Solomon Islands government.

Acting jointly with the landowners in the matter, the Attorney-General Mr John Muria Jnr will lead the Solomon Islands government in the claim.

“We wish to ensure that companies act within local and international maritime and environmental laws and those that don’t need to be held to account,” said Attorney-General John Muria Jnr.

Solomon Islands Minister of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology Trevor Mahaga, points out that “while East Rennell is a remote area, its environmental importance cannot be overstated and significant damage was done to this important part of our country and despite the generous clean-up assistance from Australia and New Zealand at the time, the residents continue to be impacted.”

“Neither the Kangava Community nor the Solomon Islands Government have received any assistance or compensation from the parties that are allegedly responsible,” the government added.

Photo credit: Solomon Islands government
Published: 14 February, 2025

Related Topics:Business - Events Others - Environment Others - Incident

Up Next

South Korea to invest USD 154 million into construction of environment-friendly ships

Don't Miss

‘There is no net zero by 2050 without nuclear,’ says ABS Chairman and CEO

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.

Published

12 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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.

Published

12 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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.

Published

12 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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