Business

Bunker Flash: Organic Chloride Compound Detected in Singapore Bunkers

Source of theses organic chlorides could be from chemicals used in engine air coolers and cleaning agents used in the dry-cleaning industry.

Published

4 years ago

March 17, 2022

Admin

Marine fuel testing and marine surveying business Maritec Pte Ltd (CTI-Maritec) on Wednesday (17 March) issued an alert regarding organic chloride compound detected in Singapore bunkers:

Issued on 17 March 2022

Maritec Pte Ltd has tested several samples representing HSFO deliveries from 04 -13 Mar 2022 in Singapore, detecting Chlorinated Organic Compound by GCMS test method. The product tested had1-2-Dichloroethane ranging 1955 ppm –3753 ppm & Tetrachloroethylene ranging 127 ppm –217 ppm. These samples are also marginally stable using test method SMS 1600 between 1.00–1.10, which may cause excessive sludging.

Source of theses organic chlorides could be from chemicals used in engine air coolers and cleaning agents used in the dry-cleaning industry and should not be present in bunker fuels at these levels.

There has been a reported case of Purifier Sludging, Filter clogging and fuel pump damages among the samples tested.

With a high concentration of chlorinated compounds, this is an indication for the presence of residual chlorinated degreasing/cleaning solvents in bunker fuel which will cause excessive wear to fuel pump plunger and barrel assembly. Please monitor the fuel pump index closely to check for deteriorating performance. Ensure there is sufficient spare seals and plunger barrel assembly to replace damaged units if necessary.

The P-value of an oil gives information on stability and stability reserve. A higher P-value indicates that the oil is more stable with respect to flocculation of asphaltenes. Please find table below.

Maritec TSP table 1

Unstable fuel will form excessive sludge concentrations in tanks and can choke purifiers, filters, fuel injection equipment and even the fuel lines. Under such conditions fuel treatment is often impossible and even transfer becomes problematic. Particularly in the case of thermally unstable fuels where problems manifest in the filters, purifiers, and fuel service system heaters.

It is advisable to carefully observe the vessel fuel system for the above signs and conduct further GCMS testing by ASTM D7845 & assess the stability of the fuel further by SMS 1600 as pre-emptive measures. In cases where a ship suspects the specific fuel in use on board is the possible cause of the operational problems, applicable evidence should be gathered to support further investigation. Such evidence includes but is not limited to logging the case in detail, collecting further in-use fuel system samples, documenting the evidence leading up to, during and after the operational problems were experienced as well as any mitigating actions taken.

This document however does not reflect on the overall quality of fuel being supplied in Singapore, if you intend to bunker at this region, Maritec Pte Ltd can also assist you in with further information on quality of bunkers tested in different regions. If you require any other information or assistance do not hesitate to contact your Maritec Sales Representative.

Photo credit and source: CTI-Maritec
Published: 17 March, 2022

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

20 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

20 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

20 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026