Business

U.S. Coast Guard: Panama-flagged bulk carrier loses propulsion

GDF Suez North Sea towed from Atlantic Ocean into port of New York and New Jersey on 21 August.

Published

8 years ago

August 28, 2018

Admin

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier GDF Suez North Sea encountered a loss of propulsion over 100 miles (160 kilometres) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and had to be towed from the location into the port of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday (21 August), says the U.S. Coast Guard.

It issued a report:

At around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York received a report that the Panama-flagged bulk carrier GDF Suez North Sea with 21 crew aboard, was disabled. The Coast Guard monitored the situation over the following days as the crew attempted to repair the propulsion system.

By Thursday night, the vessel’s crew determined they were unable to affect repairs, and the Coast Guard began facilitating an offshore salvage operation. A HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Cape Cod arrived on scene at approximately 10:45 a.m., Friday, to establish communications with the vessel and assess its condition.

The parent company of GDF Suez North Sea dispatched the tug Atlantic Salvor from the Port of New York and New Jersey to rendezvous with the vessel over 100 miles offshore and take her under tow. The Atlantic Salvor began towing operations towards New York around 12:30 p.m., Friday. Coast Guard Sector New York personnel closely monitored the vessel’s transit through busy offshore shipping lanes.

Upon arrival to Ambrose Channel, the Coast Guard directed the use of at least three tugs to tow the disabled vessel into New York Harbor and to its berth in Newark.

On Sunday, August 26, Coast Guard Sector New York’s Vessel Traffic Service coordinated and managed the complex towing evolution through New York Harbor, and Coast Guard personnel from Station New York provided a safety escort.

The 611-foot GDF Suez North Sea was carrying cement cargo when the incident happened, and the cause of the vessel’s loss of propulsion remains under investigation.

“There is nothing routine about taking a loaded freighter under tow offshore and bringing her safely into port,” said Capt. Jason Tama, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York.

“This was a successful team effort involving a number of port partners and commercial salvage assets from the Port of New York and New Jersey. We are grateful to all involved for their professionalism and duty to protect the crew, the vessel, and the port.”

Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York/Released
Published: 28 August, 2018

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

20 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

21 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

21 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