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Hong Kong: Bunkering industry rallies for financial relief and relaxed Covid-19 measures

Bunker sales volume has fallen by 70% and the industry has staged a protest to rally for financial aid and more reasonable Covid-19 safety measures, reports RTHK.

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HK Protest

The bunkering industry in Hong Kong has staged a protest to rally for its government to relax quarantine measures for inbound vessels and a HKD 32 million (USD 4.1 million) financial package to bolster the industry which has been affected by Covid-19 related lockdowns, reported Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). 

Currently, the government requires all crew from fishing and cargo vessels to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arrival.

According to traders, stringent quarantine measures have deterred vessels from bunkering in Hong Kong and sales volume has fallen by 70% since the outbreak started last year. 

The industry comprises roughly 1,000 workers and 160 operating bunker tankers and reportedly has not allegedly received any relief funds from earlier financial packages arranged by the government.

The protest was purportedly held on Thursday, (14 December) at Victoria Harbour where 18 vessels displayed banners with messages like “The government bans shipping shipping without giving us subsidies” and “To say Hong Kong port is open is empty talk”. 

Historically, Hong Kong ranks among the world’s top-five bunkering ports by volume but is currently in danger of losing its position as the pandemic has driven its customers to bunker at other regional ports.

“People are not allowed to come in right now, but the ships are still sailing around the world. So where do they go? They go to Taiwan, they go to Singapore for bunkering,” said transport sector legislator Frankie Yick.

“As much as possible, we don’t want them to leave Hong Kong. Once they leave, they could find it is  even more convenient or it could be cheaper over there, so then they won’t come back. This is the worry that we have.”

Concerns regarding the maritime industry include foreign crew carrying the Covid-19 virus and triggering a third wave of the virus. 

However, Yick explained that the industry has updated its practices so that zero-contact bunkering operations will be possible. 

For example, the bunkering hose will be hoisted up with a chain and on-board crew will connect the hose to the vessel themselves. Additionally, bunker-delivery related documents can be lowered to on-shore crew with a basket and disinfected with alcohol before being handled.

I would say all the precautionary measures have been done, so the government should do some sort of rethinking,” said Yick.

Related: Hong Kong: Bunkering operations affected amidst tightening of COVID-19 measures


Photo credit: Courtesy of a Manifold Times reader
Published: 18 January, 2021

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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.

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

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.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

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.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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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

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