Taiwanese businessman Chen Shih-hsien, who runs Billions Bunker Group, has reportedly been charged at the Taiwan High Court (Kaohsiung Branch) on Thursday in connection to illegal sales of marine fuel to a North Korean vessel in 2017.
The court found Chen guilty of falsely declaring the route for Lighthouse Winmore, a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker chartered by the Billions Bunker Group.
He said the vessel was travelling to Hong Kong, when it actually sailed to international waters to engage in a ship-to-ship (STS) operation to transfer 600 metric tonnes (mt) of bunkers to North Korean vessel Sam Jong 2.
“Chen was well aware that the oil he purchased was being shipped to international waters for sale … and made four false declarations last year,” a statement from the court said, as quoted by Reuters.
Chen, meanwhile, is out on bail and barred from leaving Taiwan.
He told the court he was unaware the oil was being delivered to a North Korean vessel, and noted that the business transactions were conducted through a Chinese middleman and he has been “framed” by China.
In January, the Taiwanese government froze bank accounts of Chen’s companies and announced a ban on all business dealings with him after discovery of the illegal STS operation.
The corporate registry of the Marshall Islands later de-registered the Billions Bunker Group after learning of the development.
Oil tankers related to the Billions Bunker Group, namely Kings Way and Twins Bull, were denied entry at Kaohsiung Port in Taiwan during the same month.
Related: Bunker fuel involved in sanctioned North Korea trade
Related: Taiwan-based Billions Bunker Group de-registered
Related: Billions Bunker Group registered tankers denied port entry
Published: 6 July, 2018
Vessel arrested on Wednesday afternoon at Western Petroleum Anchorage, according to Singapore court.
Patrol team was conducting operations on 27 November when they discovered BT 99998 TS behaving suspiciously 50 nautical miles Southwest of Con Dao.
Focuses on the lack of awareness on the importance of recording BDN seal numbers - which protects buyers and sellers in the event of a quality dispute.
Total of 17 men arrested, together with $2.29 million in cash and 12,000 dwt tanker seized.
Arrest made at Western Petroleum Anchorage B in Singapore port on Tuesday, show court data.
The unnamed 3,850 dwt and 520 dwt tankers were discovered floating suspiciously close together on Friday, 8.9 nautical miles off Tanjung Penawar, Kota Tinggi.
OctamarTM HF-10 Plus was subjected to tests conducted at a third party lab by SGS Testing and Intertek in Singapore under the supervision of ClassNK earlier this year, according to spokeswoman.
Former Regional Marine Manager of BP Singapore issued penalty of SGD 6 million; he faces an additional 28-month imprisonment term if penalty is not paid, says Judge.
Sing Fuels claiming over total 1,049.29 metric tonnes of 380 centistokes bunker fuel delivered to bulk carrier Lila Shanghai at Port Elizabeth, South Africa in July 2019, according to court documents.
Reserve Stability Number results are ‘questionable’ as almost all additives targeting asphaltene management show effectiveness in the test, says spokesman.
Singfar International partnering Lianyungang Shenghua Shipbuilding to deliver 7,000 dwt DF bunker tankers from 2023 to support decarbonisation of the Singapore maritime industry.
GSM awarded USD 1.85 million as well as SGD 5,800; Judge finds SFM Director ‘ungrateful and dishonest in his dealings with Bernard and the plaintiff,’ according to Court Judgement seen by Manifold Times.
