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VPS appoints Steve Laino as new Americas Managing Director

Laino will apply his experience and knowledge in emerging emissions and alternative fuels to deliver complete value-chain solutions for bunker fuels, lubricants and decarbonisation in the region.

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VPS appoints Steve Laino as new Americas Managing Director

Marine fuel quality and surveying firm VPS on Wednesday (18 December) announced the appointment of Steve Laino to the role of Managing Director for the Americas. 

In this role, Laino will apply his experience and knowledge to deliver complete value-chain solutions for fuels, lubricants and decarbonisation in the region. 

Laino joined VPS having held C-suite and leadership roles as a ship owner, broker, entrepreneur and advisor across multiple sectors and markets in the global supply chain. 

Most recently, Laino has applied his subject matter expertise and in-depth understanding of the emerging emissions and alternative fuels sectors in his role as Global Head of Environmental Solutions with Poten & Partners/BGC Partners. 

He has a strong background in shipping, having graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, sailed as an officer in the US Merchant Marine and served as Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated: “The maritime industry is changing fast with ambitious emissions targets and decarbonisation requirements driving the introduction of new technologies and fuels into the market.”

“In this dynamic landscape, we are very pleased to have Steve on board to lead delivery of all VPS services to customers in the Americas and help them optimise their operations by understanding which new fuels to use and how to adapt to these sustainable business drivers and meet new regulations.”

Steve Laino, stated: “Industries around the world are witnessing a paradigm shift in the energy products that power them and the environmental regulations that govern their stakeholders’ compliance. An increased need for transparency and traceability of energy sources and production methods will grow to be a primary driver of successful business strategies.”

“Testing, verification, certification, data-supported analysis and the ability to easily access and disseminate critical information from these sources are quickly becoming required tools of the trade.”

“For decades, VPS has reliably provided and evolved their services to the maritime, power generation and wind sectors. In response to the evolution of energy products and the impact on businesses in and adjacent to the supply chain, VPS has invested in new digital platforms, testing capabilities and advisory capacity to meet the challenges faced by its customers.”

“I am very pleased to join VPS to lead and grow their business in the Americas.  I look forward to working closely with our team to gather and provide valuable decision-making information to our clients, yielding the flexibility and foresight needed to navigate the new commercial, operational and technical challenges before us.”

 

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 19 December, 2024

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Business

Singapore: Sea Oil Petroleum enters 2025 with international representatives, expanded team

Rohan Bhatia, Kelly Xiao, Tomny Tang, and Kevin Chia join group to expand its operational footprint on the global stage.

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Singapore-based bunker trading firm Sea Oil Petroleum Pte Ltd (Sea Oil), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand-listed Sea Oil Public Company Limited, has started 2025 with an expanded team on both international and local fronts.

“We are pleased to notify the market that Rohan Bhatia has joined the Sea Oil team as our Chief Representative in Europe during January,” Steve Goh, Head of Trading, told bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Rohan, who has worked for the likes of World Fuel Services, Bomin and GP Global, brings over 17 years of experience in physical and back-to-back bunker sales to Sea Oil; his role will be to expand the company’s presence in the European and U.S. markets.

Sea Oil also made headways into China with two local trading representatives, namely Kelly Xiao and Tomny Tang during Q4 2024; both will lead the company’s entry into the Chinese market while promoting its services to the rest of the world.

Kevin Chia, meanwhile, joined Sea Oil as Bunker Trader during the second half of 2024. Chia was previously from The Hawks and Propeller Fuels; he will be responsible for supporting and expanding Sea Oil’s current customer base in the Asia-Pacific region.

The latest additions to Sea Oil are set to bolster the group’s desire to expand their operating footprint on the global stage.

Contact details for Sea Oil’s new representatives are as follows:

Rohan Bhatia
Chief Representative (Europe)
Mobile: +44-7496-437331
[email protected]

Kelly Xiao
Mobile: +86-137-1477-7347
[email protected]
Wechat: xiaomei13714777347

Tomny Tang
Mobile: +86-137-6023-4327
[email protected]
Wechat: tomny2012

Kevin Chia
Bunker Trader
Mobile: +65 9853 6303
[email protected]

General enquiries
Email: [email protected]

Related: Sea Oil Petroleum introduces new bunker trading team, revised marine fuels business plan

 

Photo credit: Sea Oil Petroleum
Published: 6 February 2025

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Business

DNV Maritime appoints first Chief Operating Officer to strengthen leadership team

DNV has appointed Singapore-based Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria as Chief Operating Officer, a newly established role in the organisation, with effect from 1 January.

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DNV Maritime appoints first Chief Operating Officer to strengthen leadership team

Classification society DNV on Tuesday (28 January) said it has appointed Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria as Chief Operating Officer, a newly established role in the organisation, with effect from 1 January. 

"The maritime industry is navigating growing complexities, from its operating environment to the expanding network of diverse stakeholders it serves and interacts with,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO, DNV Maritime. 

“To address these challenges and seize new opportunities, the addition of a COO strengthens our leadership team, ensuring we are well-positioned to meet evolving business needs."

Based in Singapore, Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, will in her new role streamline communication and coordination between regional teams and central functions, work closely with key customers globally and strengthen operational capabilities in key growth markets.

“It is an exciting time for the maritime industry, and I am proud to play my part in supporting our customers as they navigate the complexities ahead,” said Saenz de Santa Maria. 

“I am delighted to take on this new role and look forward to driving greater collaboration and innovation to enhance our operational capabilities and customer impact.”

Since joining DNV in 2005, Saenz de Santa Maria has gained extensive experience across the maritime industry, working in newbuilding and operations as a ship surveyor and project manager in Spain, Portugal, South Korea, and Norway. 

She has also held several senior management roles across Norway, Africa, and Singapore, most recently as Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific and India. Saenz de Santa Maria holds a Master of Science degree in Naval Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, earned in 2005. 

She also completed an MBA at IE Business School in Madrid.

 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 31 January, 2025

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Employment

Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine introduces Global Sales & Procurement Manager

Travis Tey joins E-Marine as Global Marine Fuel Sales & Procurement Manager, learns Manifold Times.

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Hong Kong-based marine fuel and lubricant trading company Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service Corporation Limited (E-Marine) on Friday (31 January) introduced its first Singapore-based trading staff to the bunkering sector, learned Manifold Times.

Travis Tey joins E-Marine as Global Marine Fuel Sales & Procurement Manager with immediate effect; he is responsible for marine fuel procurement for ports outside of China and South Korea, and heads the company’s customer sales outside of China.

Prior to his latest move, Mr Tey was mainly involved in sales and business development at several top bunker trading firms since joining the sector in 2011. Before his latest stint as Senior Bunker Trader at Delta Energy Fuel Supply & Trading, he has worked for Hanwa Singapore, World Kinect Corporation, Wan Xian Resources Singapore, and Asia Pacific Exchange (APEX).

“Travis, who understands the working culture between bunkering stakeholders within and outside Hong Kong and China, is the perfect person to carry out our organisation’s expansion plans into the international market,” shared Darcy Wang, Managing Director of E-Marine.

“Since the launch of our Singapore branch office in early 2024, E-Marine has successfully been operating as a bridge between ex-wharf players and local physical bunker suppliers since entering Singapore’s ex-wharf market.

“Having taken a year to establish a presence at Singapore – the world’s largest bunkering port – where many of our customers and bunker trading partners are based, we are now ready to use the republic as a launchpad to penetrate the global bunkering sector as part of our company’s next evolution.”

Mr Tey believes he will be able to contribute towards E-Marine’s success.

“E-Marine started operations as a small trader in 2016 and grew into a medium-sized trading house in the Covid-19 pandemic during 2023, which gradually prompted its expansion into Singapore,” he said.

“Working from the largest international bunker trading houses to several Chinese firms have given me the correct exposure, knowledge and mindset to take E-Marine to the next commercial level.

“I intend to carry on the good foundation laid out by Darcy and introduce the good name of E-Marine to the international scene.”

Contact details of Travis Tey is as follows:

E-Marine’s Singapore office address is as follows:

5 Purvis Street, #02-01, Singapore 188584

Related: Exclusive: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands operations with Singapore branch
Related: Exclusive: Bunker and lube trading firm Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service to open Singapore branch by June

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 January 2025

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