Legal

Argus Media: Petrobras ordered to refuel Iranian vessels

Petrobras said it has yet to receive notice of the new court decision, but will analyze the ruling once received.

Published

7 years ago

July 26, 2019

Admin

Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Thursday (25 July) provided a marine fuels industry related update focusing on refuelling issues of the Bavand and Termeh at Paranagua Bay, Brazil:

Brazil's supreme court has ordered state-controlled Petrobras to supply bunker fuel to Iranian grain vessels stranded off the southern coast since early June, the latest in an ongoing rift with broad diplomatic implications.

In a solo ruling last night, supreme court justice Dias Toffoli upheld a local court decision that obligated Petrobras to refuel the two vessels, Brazilian jurists familiar with the matter tell Argus. The decision, still under seal, is aimed at easing tensions between the two countries with a long trade history, particularly in agricultural products.

The Bavand and the Termeh, both owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and operated by Iranian shipping firm Sapid, have been requesting fuel for a return journey after discharging urea cargoes in Paranagua Bay for Brazilian firm Eleva. Urea is covered by US sanctions on Iran, although the corn the two ships would carry back to Iran is not.

Transpetro, the logistics arm of Petrobras, denied a request to refuel the vessels, citing US sanctions.

Petrobras said it has yet to receive notice of the new court decision, but will analyze the ruling once it is received.

Last week, Eleva secured an injunction from a state court in Parana obligating Petrobras to supply 1,700 tons of fuel to the vessels under threat of fines. Petrobras and the government appealed the decision.

The full court is currently in recess and will only return to its normal schedule next week.

Toffoli's decision, which can still be appealed to the full court, runs counter to the federal government's argument that refueling the ships puts both Petrobras and its controlling shareholder–the federal government–at risk of serious damages.

Pressure was ratcheted up earlier this week when Iran's ambassador in Brasilia, Seyed Ali Saghaeyan, told reporters that denying fuel to the vessels could prompt the country to look elsewhere for the agricultural goods the country currently imports from Brazil.

The 53,546dwt Supramax bulker Bavand already loaded 48,000 t of corn at Imbituba port in Santa Catarina, a Paranagua port operator said. The 75,249dwt Panamax bulker Termeh is waiting for bunker before traveling to the same port for a 65,000 t cargo of corn.

Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Sapid and Eleva were not available to comment. Calls and emails to the Iranian embassy in Brasilia went unanswered.

Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Sapid are specifically sanctioned by the US as part of its wider campaign against Tehran.

Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, an outspoken supporter of US president Donald Trump, says his administration is aligned with Washington on this matter.

The predicament in Brazil coincides with rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized a UK-flagged oil tanker on 19 July.

Source: Argus Media
Published: 26 July, 2019

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd issues notice of annual meeting

Annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

Published

2 days ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting was issued by liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 12 August, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Annual and final meetings to be held for Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd

Annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

Published

2 days ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting and final meeting was issued by liquidators of Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

The annual meeting will be held at 2pm while the final meeting will be held at 3pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year and the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of and hearing any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 12 August, 2026

Sanctions

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Brandt’s relocation to the city-state is a direct response to increased client demand for sanctions advice in Asia, says law firm.

Published

2 days ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Global law firm Reed Smith on Tuesday (11 August) announced the relocation of global shipping and sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore.

Brandt advises insurers, owners, charterers, brokers, and traders on all aspects of sanctions-related challenges, providing analysis of applicable legislation, assistance with due diligence work, and training.

He has extensive experience of U.S. and UK government investigations, disclosures, and enforcement actions and has been centrally involved in many of the most high-profile designations, seizures, and enforcement actions brought against members of the international shipping community.

Brandt also has wide-ranging experience drafting protective language for transportation, trade and financing contracts, and has worked with major lenders and other organisations to develop best-in-class compliance programmes. He also has sat on a number of BIMCO and other organisations’ drafting committees, assisting in the development of industry standard clauses.

In addition to his role in the global sanctions practice, Brandt routinely advises on contractual and tortious rights and obligations pertaining to a wide range of dry shipping matters, including charterparties, P&I club rules, bills of lading, ship sales and purchases, and shipbuilding.

Brandt has previously spent four years in Reed Smith’s Hong Kong office, where in addition to his dry shipping work, he assisted in a number of casualty investigations and criminal prosecutions arising from major casualties.

Praj Samant, Reed Smith’s Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alex to the Singapore office, and back to Asia. He is a tremendous talent with a global perspective and commercial outlook, which is an invaluable asset to clients both in the region and beyond.”

Richard Hakes, global chair of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, said: “Our transportation practice’s commitment to Asia and to our clients based in the region is longstanding and Alex’s relocation is a direct response to the needs of our clients. We have a leading and growing shipping practice across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore – with a number of new arrivals in the last year. Alex will be joining that team at an exciting time for us, and at a time where there is high regional demand for his complex sanctions advice.”

Brandt added: “I am delighted to be making the move to a region I am very familiar with already. It is clear that our global clients require increased support in the region, and I look forward to working with the regional team here, as well as continuing to collaborate with our market-leading sanctions team globally.”

Photo credit: Reed Smith
Published: 12 August, 2026