Business

VPS TALKS: PREVENTION

On 5th June 2021, VPS carried out a Remaining On Board (R.O.B.) survey on board a Singapore-registered bunker tanker at short notice by the Charterer and quickly identified the theft of 98 metric tons of bunker fuel.

Published

5 years ago

June 17, 2021

Admin

By Capt. Rahul Choudhuri, VPS Managing Director, AMEA

HOW VPS QUANTITY CONTROL PREVENTS THEFT – AND PROTECTS YOUR INVESTMENT

Bunker quantity control continues to be underestimated. And this is costing operators thousands of dollars per day.

In 2019, our white paper revealed that failure to properly control the bunkering process resulted in a quantity loss of US$96,200 per vessel per year, on average.

Additionally, VPS Bunker Surveyors recorded 82,490 m/tons of undeclared bunkers in 2020, many of which could have been prevented if stakeholders had hired professional bunker surveyors – for a fraction of that cost.

This situation has worsened due to the restrictions on physical movement due to COVID 19. In fact, this caused the number of bunker monitoring and control surveys to drop, creating a marked increase in illegal activities.

Our proactive approach quickly identified the theft of 98 metric tons of fuel

On 5th June 2021, VPS carried out a Remaining On Board (R.O.B.) survey on board a Singapore-registered bunker Tanker (A) at short notice by the Charterer.

The local authorities had detected Bunker Tanker (A) carrying out unauthorized transfer of bunker cargo to another vessel (B) soon after she came out of a loading terminal.

The R.O.B. survey on board Bunker Tanker (A) confirmed a shortage of 98 m/tons in comparison with the after loading R.O.B. quantity at the terminal.

The VPS Surveyor discovered evidence that the pipeline flange before the Mass Flow Meter(MFM) had been opened and the bunker cargo was transferred out via this outlet to vessel B. (See photo above)

Why proper R.O.B. quantity control is vitally important

It’s a disturbing fact that internal R.O.B. controls can easily be manipulated or skewed if managed by unscrupulous staff.

At VPS, we firmly believe that prevention is better than cure.

The VPS Bunker Surveyor acts as the eyes and ears for the vessel’s Chief Engineer and staff by expertly supervising the total bunker operation. They take care of the bunker delivery, provide local knowledge, complete all the necessary paperwork, ensure proper sampling, distribution and fast sample dispatch to the nearest VPS laboratory.

To put this another way, both the R.O.B. on a bunker tanker and the vessel risk large financial losses when poorly managed.

We recommend engaging the professional services of a VPS Bunker Surveyor. Our experience, integrity and expertise will accurately and independently verify the exact quantity onboard.

This approach actively protects your investment and your reputation.

And you can’t put a price on that.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 17 June, 2021

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

4 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

4 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

4 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