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Xihe replaces Directors, forms new management team to chart fresh course for Group

Xihe said it has recently hired a qualified management team to drive the business; Lim Oon Kuin and his children are no longer part of the management team.
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Ocean QUEEN

Singapore-based tanker shipowner the Xihe Group of Companies (Xihe) on Thursday (30 July) said a new management team has been put in place to chart a fresh course for the group.

This comes following Xihe’s previous announcement that its creditors have adjourned court proceedings in favour of working together with the group towards a consensual restructuring.

Xihe said it has recently hired a highly qualified management team with close to 100 years of collective shore and sea-based experience to drive its corporate finance, marketing, chartering, sale of vessels and fleet management. 

The key personnel on the new management team include: 

  • Interim CEO Kenny Lim
  • Commercial Director Desmond Chong
  • Sales & Purchase Director Michael Tan
  • Vice President (Fleet Management) Capt. Zhang Yujie

The group clarified that Lim Oon Kuin and his children are no longer part of the management team and a new board of directors – consisting of a majority of non-executive independent directors – is also being finalised as part of the consensual restructuring with Xihe’s Lenders.

The new team has made significant strides in managing Xihe’s businesses in a short span of two months, despite disruptions brought about by Ocean Tankers Pte Ltd (OTPL) – its main bareboat charterer – being placed under interim judicial management (IJM) in May 2020, it said.

With the assistance and guidance of its legal and financial advisors, Xihe added that its team is taking steps towards achieving consensual restructuring and revamping of the Xihe Group of companies. 

The first of these steps is to terminate all bareboat charter contracts which Xihe had entered into with OTPL and Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd (HLT) and actively working with the interim judicial managers of OPTL and HLT to seek redelivery of those vessels. 

There is a market for chartering out these vessels and Xihe is actively pursuing opportunities to re-deploy them, noted Xihe.

Secondly, Xihe adds it is seeking to conduct an orderly divestment and rightsizing of its fleet to achieve optimum returns to all stakeholders. 

It has concluded the sale of several of its vessels and is in discussions with a number of potential buyers on a programme of sales, it said.

Thirdly, as part of Xihe’s revamped business model, the group added that it has identified strategic partners to form alliances with. It has engaged, and will be engaging professional, internationally renowned technical and commercial managers to manage and market its vessels for charter, to ensure that the highest standards of safety, quality and efficiency are attained. 

“Just this week, Xihe successfully took redelivery of its 108,953 DWT oil tanker Ocean Queen (IMO 9368223) from HLT (bareboat charterer) and OTPL (ship manager),” said Xihe Holdings in an official release.

“The vessel is now under the technical management of a newly appointed world-class ship manager.

“Xihe is confident of getting its business back on track and with full commitment to bring about the best outcome for all its stakeholders, partners and clients.”

Related: Xihe creditors adjourn court proceedings in favour of consensual restructuring
Related: OCBC files for Xihe Holdings to be placed under judicial management


Photo credit: Xihe Group
Published: 3 August, 2020

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Newbuilding

Singapore: Pinnacle Marine’s first B100 fuelled utility boat starts 1,000-hour research trial

Newbuilding operated by Prestige Ocean Pte Ltd will capture data on bunker fuel emissions, marine fuel behaviour, and performance.
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July 9, 2025

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President MT

The 50th vessel constructed by local boat builder Pinnacle Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd, namely President 100, is starting 1,000 hours of real-time research trials in collaboration with several parties from Wednesday (9 July) onwards, it says.

Powered by B100 biodiesel, the newbuilding operated by Prestige Ocean Pte Ltd will capture data on bunker fuel emissions, marine fuel behaviour, and performance.

It will be participating in trials with Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD), Weichai Singapore, China Classification Society, Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd, Abo Shoten, Ltd. / 株式会社安保商店 , Abo Singapore, Wilmar International, Gulf Marine, Amspec Testing & Services, and AYK Engineering and Consulting.

President MT 02

The President 100, Pinnacle Marine’s first full biodiesel utility boat, was launched on Tuesday in the presence of over 100 guests.

“Our latest vessel, President 100, merges legacy and future. Named after our first aluminium boat (“President”) and inspired by B100 biodiesel, it leads the charge for our next 50 vessels — many of which will embrace green technology,” stated Pinnacle Marine in a LinkedIn post.

“The launch was amazing, with strong turnout from across the maritime sector — authorities, shipowners, operators, agencies, chandlers, researchers, offshore engineers, and petrochemical suppliers.”

It added: “We’re excited to see how it paves the way for wider adoption of B100 biodiesel — a cleaner, sustainable path for Singapore’s harbour craft sector.”

 

Photo credit: Pinnacle Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Published: 9 July 2025

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Newbuilding

BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fuelled bulk carriers

BHP continues to work with the maritime industry to develop an ammonia bunkering plan for the two vessels when they are delivered from 2028.

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July 9, 2025

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BHP ammonia DF charters

Global resources company BHP on Wednesday (2 July) signed contracts with COSCO Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO shipping Group (COSCO Shipping) for the charter of two ammonia dual-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

The new vessels to be built under this arrangement will be two of only a handful of vessels in the world capable of using ammonia as a bunker fuel.

The two vessels, expected to be delivered from 2028, will primarily transport iron ore from Western Australia to Northeast Asia.

When run on lower or low to zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ammonia, these vessels will be capable of reducing GHG emissions by at least 50% and up to 95% on a per voyage basis compared to a conventionally fuelled voyage.

The five-year time charter contracts are expected to contribute towards a reduction in the GHG emissions intensity of BHP chartered shipping.

BHP continues to work with the maritime industry to develop an ammonia bunkering plan – the process of fuelling ships with ammonia – for the two vessels when they are delivered from 2028.

Sourcing lower and low to zero GHG emissions ammonia is subject to an ongoing tender process.

 

Photo credit: BHP
Published: 9 July 2025

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Milestone

Everllence celebrates 1,000th ME-GI engine; milestone unit goes to Hapag-Lloyd

Engine, a 7G95ME-GI type, bound for a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel currently under construction at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
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July 9, 2025

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festakt hapag lloyd thumbnail MT

Everllence, formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions, on Tuesday (8 July) celebrated the order of its 1,000th ME-GI engine that can run on either heavy fuel oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a bunker fuel.

The engine, a 7G95ME-GI type, is bound for a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel currently under construction at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. where it is designated as hull #1721.

Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “We are proud to mark this milestone with our partner, Everllence. The order for the 1,000th ME-GI engine reflects our commitment to decarbonising global supply chains. Dual-fuel technologies like the ME-GI are a key step on our journey to a low-emission fleet and support our ambition to drive change across the industry.”

Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of Everllence, added: “Considering that the strongest interest in the ME-GI engine has come from the container segment, it is fitting that this significant milestone should be reached with an order from such a prestigious container player as Hapag-Lloyd. On the path to net-zero, the marine industry needs pioneers and Hapag-Lloyd is leading the way by example.”

“2025 has seen a large increase in ME-GI orders as methane makes for an excellent transition fuel on the way to decarbonising shipping. The ME-GI’s market-leading efficiency and technological maturity – as well as lowest methane slip – have confirmed its status as the marine industry’s default, dual-fuel, methane-fuelled engine.”

 

Photo credit: Everllence
Published: 9 July 2025

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