MPA: Unlicensed bunker craft operator fined $81,000

New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd was convicted in court on 17 January 2017, for providing services in the port of Singapore without a bunker craft operator licence and was fined a total of $81,000.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) brought the charges against New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd between 3 January 2015 and 28 March 2015.
It was revealed that New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd has been found using the bunker craft operator licence that was issued to Seaquest Tanker Pte Ltd for providing services in the port. Seaquest Tanker’s bunker craft operator licence was revoked by MPA on 26 April 2016 for the company’s involvement with New Ocean Maritime. Investigations showed that its actions had breached the terms and conditions of the licence.

MPA states that Singapore as the world’s largest bunkering port, seeks to maintain high bunkering standards, covering documentation, equipment standards and verification processes for bunkering operations.
To safeguard Singapore’s reputation as a trusted and reliable bunkering hub, all bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators operating in the port of Singapore are required to be licensed by MPA. It adopts a zero tolerance approach towards bunkering malpractices and will not hesitate to take action against any unlicensed entity operating in the port of Singapore.