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NewOcean records USD 174 million 1H 2020 loss; Singapore bunkering business remains

Covid and the slump in oil prices substantially reduced gross profit margins for the company’s bunkering and electronics businesses, it said in a recent financial filing.

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Hong Kong-listed NewOcean Energy Holdings Limited (NewOcean), the parent company of bunkering firm NewOcean Fuel, on Monday (31 August) published its unaudited interim results for the first six months (1H) ending 30 June, 2020. 

Following the profit warning posted by the group on Friday (28 August),  NewOcean reported a HKD 1,351 million (USD 174 million) loss for 1H 2020; the group recorded consolidated profit of 301 million (USD 38.9 million) in 1H 2019.

The loss was mainly due to the drop in gross profit and additional provision for account receivables, inventories and property, plant and equipment, it said. 

Due to COVID-19 and the slump in global oil prices, the gross profit margin derived from oil bunkering business and electronic business has been substantially reduced or turned into gross loss margin, explained NewOcean. 

The overall gross margin from these sectors decreased to 0.4% as compared to 6.2% of the same period in last year.

On top of the above, the company noted it also experienced undue delay in trade receivables collection and inventory being sold at a loss in recent months, therefore it has to make additional impairment losses on trade receivables and allowance for inventories for 1H 2020.

The additional impairment losses amount to HKD 554 million (USD 71.5 million), as opposed to HKD 8 million recorded in the same period last year.

Due to the collapse of Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd and the global oil slump in 1H 2020, NewOcean noted a number of banks demanded a reduction in short term credit extended to the company. 

In order to mitigate the liquidity pressure and to improve its financial position, the company said its Directors have implemented a proactive approach to negotiate with banks to arrange and agree on a debt restructuring.

“Our gross margin of LPG business remained above 10%. Since our major competitors had turned to cut-throat tactics to sell products in large lots at low prices for cashing in during March and April, we unwillingly had to use the same tactic for our oil products business, that was to sell products below costs for the depletion of its holding stock to avoid further impairment risks from the ongoing oil price slump,” said NewOcean in its report. 

“These explain the recorded negative gross profits in our marine bunkering business during March and April. 

“As the market had restored in May and June, both our gross profits and gross margin had adjusted back to normal, despite the fact that our average overall gross profits for the six months were dragged down to a low of 1.11% (same period of last year: 4.28%).”

NewOcean said it will scale down its oil products business to focus on the sales of products with high gross profits as well as measures to reduce costs. 

Since the cost of refueling business in Hong Kong is relatively high, the company said it is committed to selling wholesale to clients who are distributors, and to lease its existing oil tankers to wholesalers.

Its bunkering business at Singapore will still continue operations due to relatively stable gross profits and high commodity flow.

Moving forward, NewOcean noted it will take the occupancy of around 100,000 tonnes among the total leased capacity of 300,000 tonnes of storage, while the balance of 200,000 tonnes will be leased to third parties to reduce overhead costs. 

Related: NewOcean Energy publishes profit warning to shareholders ahead of 1H 2020 results
Related: NewOcean Energy records 66% bunker sales jump to 4.5 million mt in FY 2019


Photo credit: NewOcean Energy Holdings
Published: 1 September, 2020

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Winding up

Singapore: Lugalis Shipping Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Liquidators have been appointed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 31 July for the purpose of winding up company’s affair, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Lugalis Shipping Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held on 31 July, according to a post in the Government Gazette on Thursday (6 August).

The duly passed resolutions were:

AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

  1. That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the “Act”).
  2. That Lau Chin Huat and Yeo Boon Keong, as the Joint and Several Liquidators, be and are hereby authorised to divide among the contributory in cash or in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the company.
  3. That the Joint and Several Liquidators be at the liberty to exercise all or any of the powers conferred on themselves pursuant to the Act.

AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

  1. That Lau Chin Huat and Yeo Boon Keong, of 50 Havelock Road, #02-767, Singapore 160050 be appointed as the Joint and Several Liquidators for the purpose of winding up the company.
  2. That the remuneration and winding up disbursements of the Joint and Several Liquidators be fixed on a time basis at rates as agreed in the engagement letter.
  3. That the Joint and Several Liquidators be authorised to destroy all books and papers of the Company and of the Joint and Several Liquidators 5 years after the date of dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 195(2) of the Act.

In another notice, the liquidators of Lugalis Shipping said creditors for the company are required on or before the 7 September to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the liquidators. 

Liquidators may also require creditors to, “come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.”

The liquidators can be contacted at the following address:

Lau Chin Huat
Yeo Boon Keong
Joint and Several Liquidators
c/o
Technic Inter-Asia Pte Ltd
50 Havelock Road, #02-767, Singapore 160050
Tel: 6561 0398 Fax: 6222 1855
Email: [email protected] 

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 7 August, 2026

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Biofuel

MESD study finds existing Singapore harbour craft ready for B100 bio bunker fuel adoption

Results demonstrate the qualified readiness of existing large harbour craft in Singapore for B100 adoption, provided that appropriate fuel-handling, storage and additive practices are implemented.

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MESD study finds existing Singapore harbour craft ready for B100 bio bunker fuel adoption

Singapore’s Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD) on Wednesday (5 August) said the findings of its latest study indicate that existing large harbour craft in Singapore are ready for the adoption of B100 biodiesel, provided appropriate fuel handling, storage and additive practices are in place.

The findings were published in MESD’s public report, Study on the Readiness of Existing Large Harbour Craft for B100 Biodiesel in Singapore.

“Overall, the results demonstrate the qualified readiness of existing large harbour craft in Singapore for B100 adoption, provided that appropriate fuel-handling, storage and additive practices are implemented,” MESD said in a social media post. 

“This represents an important step towards supporting the wider adoption of sustainable marine fuels and advancing Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey.”

The study evaluated fuel storage stability, engine performance, emissions and operational readiness through controlled laboratory testing and sea trials involving a tugboat and a bunker tanker.

MESD said the findings are highly encouraging, which include:

  • Stable engine performance was maintained throughout the 200-hour sea trials, with no significant power loss, abnormal fuel-consumption trends or critical operational disruptions.
  • Antioxidant additives improved oxidation stability and helped reduce the risk of fuel degradation during storage.
  • B100 achieved brake thermal efficiency comparable to diesel, while producing lower carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions, with a modest increase in nitrogen oxide emissions.

Led by the MESD, the study was conducted in collaboration with KST Maritime Pte Ltd, V-Bunkers Tankers, Alpha biofuels, Aderco, Maritec Naias and IHI Power Systems Co Ltd.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)​ and the ​Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI)​ also contributed to the study. 

MESD added that further research on long-term engine endurance, fuel stability and material compatibility is ongoing under its FAME 1000 project, with a related public report expected to be released later this year.

Note: The report can be accessed here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence
Published: 7 August, 2026

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Methanol

COSCO Shipping deploys methanol-ready grain carrier on South America-China routes

“Guo Liang Hai” is equipped with a smart management system, low-carbon design features and a methanol-ready fuel interface, supporting future energy transition pathways.

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COSCO Shipping deploys methanol-ready grain carrier on South America-China routes

COSCO Shipping on Thursday (6 August) said a methanol-ready 80,000 DWT multi-purpose grain carrier, GUO LIANG HAI, has officially been delivered and entered service.

At nearly 230 metres in length, Guo Liang Hai is equipped with a smart management system, low-carbon design features and a methanol-ready fuel interface, supporting future energy transition pathways.

“As the sixth vessel in its series, she is part of the world’s first 80,000 DWT vessel class specifically designed for grain transportation. But grain is only part of the story,” the company said in a social media post. 

The company said the vessel combines the efficiency of a bulk carrier with the flexibility of a multi-purpose ship. 

In addition to commodities such as soybeans, maize and wheat, it can also transport grain and dry bulk cargo, containers, wind power equipment, rolling stock and rail equipment, new energy vehicles and large-scale industrial machinery.

“Already deployed on routes between South America and China, vessels in this series create value in both directions, carrying agricultural imports while supporting exports of Chinese-made equipment and technology,” the company added.

 

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 7 August, 2026

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