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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has cancelled Palmstone Petroleum Pte. Ltd.'s bunker supplier licence with effect from July 8, 2013.

The cancellation of the licence was carried out as a result of the company contravening the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence, the MPA said.

According to the port authority, Palmstone Petroleum was found to have breached clause 3 of the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence by allowing another company to use its Bunker Delivery Notes (BDNs) to supply bunkers to customers of that other company.

Following the cancellation of its bunker supplier licence, Palmstone Petroleum is no longer allowed to operate as a bunker supplier in the Port of Singapore. All bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators operating in the Port of Singapore are required to be licensed by the MPA.

This is the third such case this year. Within the last two weeks, the bunkering licences of Golden Lights HS Bunkering Pte. Ltd. and Coast-Channels Marine Services Pte. Ltd. were also cancelled for allowing another firm to use their BDNs to supply marine fuel to clients.

Towards the end of last month, another company - Shing Li Shipping Pte. Ltd. - had its bunkering bunkering licence as a bunker craft operator cancelled. The firm was said to have breached clause 31 of the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence for delivering bunkers on behalf of an unlicensed company to customers of that company.

Supplier rankings

In the MPA's ranking of suppliers by volume in 2012, Palmstone Petroleum was ranked 46th, Golden Lights 61st and Coast-Channels 32nd in a list of 71 suppliers in Singapore.

Reminder to suppliers

In a reminder to other bunker companies operating in Singapore, the MPA said: "MPA would like to emphasise to all licensed bunker suppliers that the bunker supplier's licence is not transferable under the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence. All licensed bunker craft operators are also advised not to make use of any bunker tankers to deliver bunkers on behalf of any person, firm or company that is not a bunker supplier licensed by MPA."

To report any instances of malpractice in the bunkering industry, please contact the MPA's Marine Services Department at msd@mpa.gov.sg.