Sign up
Log in Sign up
Tue 14 Mar 2017 14:49

Singapore supplier has five tankers suspended over MFM 'irregularities'


MPA finds 'irregularities with the piping fixtures' of five Panoil vessels.

The Maritme and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) says it has temporarily suspended the harbour craft licences of five bunker supply vessels operated by marine fuel supplier Panoil Petroleum Pte Ltd.

During one of its regular spot checks on bunker tankers, the MPA "found irregularities with the piping fixtures of five bunker tankers," a spokesperson for the port authority said.

"All five bunker tankers were operated by Panoil Petroleum. Investigations are currently being carried out and the harbour craft licences of these bunker tankers have been temporarily suspended."

During the suspension period, the five vessels will not be permitted to carry out any bunker deliveries, ship-to-ship operations or leave the port of Singapore.

The MPA added that it will continue to monitor bunker tankers at the port of Singapore to ensure compliance with requirements set out in the Technical Reference for Bunker Mass Flow Metering (TR48).

"MPA will not hesitate to take action against any bunkering malpractices in the port of Singapore. Any licensee found to have contravened any terms and conditions of the licence will have their licence either suspended or cancelled," the spokesperson warned.

In the MPA's list of suppliers by volume in 2016, Panoil was ranked 10th in a list of 58 suppliers in Singapore - the same position as the previous year.

According to Panoil's website, it operates a fleet of 11 vessels: Jubilee, Royalty, Unika, Jazeel, Supernova, Oprah, Ophelia, Quinta, Megalodon, Estrella and Colossus.

Of the 11 vessels listed, two were approved for mass flow meter (MFM) bunkering by the MPA in 2015 and eight in 2016. The 800-dwt Megalodon is the only vessel not to have been approved for MFM deliveries.

The names of the five vessels suspended by the MPA are yet to be confirmed.

The world's first national technical reference (TR) for bunker mass flow metering - the Singapore Mass Flow Meter Technical Reference, or TR 48:2015 - was developed by a technical committee and launched in February 2016; it was implemented in June 2016 and specified the mandatory use of MFMs for marine fuel oil (MFO) deliveries from 1st January 2017.

The regulation means that, since 1st January 2017, only barges with an MFM system approved by the MPA have been allowed to supply MFO in Singapore.

Tallink’s MyStar vessel. Tallink targets full bio-LNG transition for Baltic shuttle vessels within a year  

Estonian ferry operator aims to replace all fossil LNG with renewable fuel on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.
Grimaldi's Grande Melbourne vessel. Grimaldi takes delivery of third ammonia-ready car carrier from Chinese shipyard  

Grande Melbourne is the third of seven vessels ordered from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for Asia-Europe service.
BPCL and Cochin Port sign MoU. BPCL and Cochin Port sign MoU for LNG bunkering facilities  

Indian oil company and port authority agree to develop LNG refuelling infrastructure for vessels.
ClassNK Guidelines front cover. ClassNK publishes world-first guidelines for membrane-based onboard CO2 capture systems  

Classification society expands guidelines to cover membrane separation method for capturing ship exhaust emissions.
April Tan, Flex Commodities. Flex Commodities hires April Tan as lead trader for China  

Dubai-based marine fuels trader appoints experienced professional to Singapore office to drive regional expansion.
Contract signing ceremony. Yang Ming finalizes contracts for six methanol dual-fuel-ready boxships  

Taiwanese carrier signs deals with Japanese shipbuilders for vessels scheduled for delivery from 2028.
China’s Da Qing 268 vessel. China's first newbuild dual-fuel methanol bunkering vessel launched in Zhoushan  

Da Qing 268 can supply methanol and conventional fuels to ships at anchorage.
Graphic announcing Standard Fuel Oils FT recognition. Standard Fuel Oils recognized in Financial Times Europe's Long-Term Growth Champions  

Liverpool-based fuel supplier included in ranking of 300 European companies with sustained revenue growth.
Naming ceremony of Wilhelmshaven Express. Hapag-Lloyd completes newbuild programme with delivery of dual-fuel vessel  

German carrier christens Wilhelmshaven Express, marking completion of 12-vessel Hamburg Express class series.
Adani Ports and BPCL sign MoU. MoU signed to develop LNG bunkering facility at Vizhinjam  

Partnership aims to establish LNG refuelling hub for international vessels at Kerala.




 Recommended