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SIBCON 2020: Equatorial Marine Fuels provides view on local and global bunker markets post Covid-19

EMF Director identifies some reversible and irreversible industry trends due to Covid-19, and shares its strategy to establish trust among stakeholders.

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Choong Sheen Mao, Director of Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (EMF), on Tuesday (6 October) shared the company’s outlook on the impact of Covid-19 for the Singapore and international bunker markets.

He also explained steps taken to establish EMF’s brand as a trustworthy company at the 21st edition of Singapore International Bunkering Conference, also known as SIBCON 2020.

Coming a long way as a home-grown brand, EMF currently operates a fleet of 19 bunker tankers, three floating storage terminals and supplies a monthly bunker volume of 450,000 metric tonnes at Singapore port. 

Covid 19: Reversible and irreversible outcomes for the bunker industry 

REVERSIBLE TRENDS 

Shortening credit terms:

Increased uncertainty in relation to credit risk in the bunker industry due to Covid-19 related problems, has caused many shipowners to be concerned about shortening credit terms. In the past, the normal credit term was 30 days, but now it’s not uncommon to see a request for 15 days or cash in advance.

Crew Change:

Pre-Covid-19, a crew change could be done within two or three days. Now, shipowners will have to plan two to three months in advance. In fact, crew change has become a critical factor in considering which port to bunker at. It has caused operational expenditure to increase as shipowners now have to consider which ports to divert to in order to facilitate crew change. 

Shipowners prefer ports with MFMs:

EMF has observed shipowners now prefer ports which enforce the use of mass flow meters (MFM) such as Singapore. The company has received reports that because of Covid-19 related restrictions in other ports, shipowner’s surveyors, or owner’s representative are not allowed to go onboard ships during bunkering. As a result, ship owners and bunker suppliers can only rely on the figures reported by the ship’s crew. 

With an MFM in place, one would be relying on figures provided by the mass flow meter, which is a neutral machine, and thus the industry finds it more to be more transparent and reliable.

IRREVERSIBLE TRENDS

De-Globalisation: 

De-globalisation is a very real issue and a side effect of Covid-19 related lockdowns. This does not mean international trade will come to a halt, but rather that trade patterns will pivot towards regionalisation. Shipowners will now have to plan differently and consider how to divert vessels, bunkering ports, and even the amount of bunkers to procure.

Higher trade barriers:

Smaller bunker suppliers and traders are going to face much higher trade barriers due to shrinking credit lines provided by banks. So, what happens next? More consolidation in the market is expected as banks look to reduce their exposure in the current environment.

EMF sees trust between industry stakeholders as one of its core values as a company. The following are some steps taken by EMF to increase transparency and accountability to establish confidence in its brand:

  • Compliance with all regulations introduced by the MPA: Straightforward, but not easy to enforce as there are numerous steps such as ensuring all mass flow meters are constantly and properly calibrated, crew are well equipped and trained to implement said regulations.
  • Transparency with banks: Making sure that the company is ‘audit-ready’ at all times. EMF even allows banks to speak directly to its customers and remains proactive in communications with its banks in order to allay their concerns.
  • Pre-testing cargo for customers: EMF takes the initiative to pre-test bunker fuel and shares the test results with its customers in order to give assurance that even before the bunkers are loaded onto their vessels, quality is ensured.
  • Online bunker tracking tool: EMF recently launched a new online tracking tool known as OTT, where its customers can have real time access to information regarding bunker delivery. All documents like quality certificates and bunker delivery notes are consolidated on one platform to increase transparency with its suppliers and customers.
  • Digitalisation: EMF embraced the digitalisation and has had its own digital technology department since 2018. EMF invests in increasing the digital literacy of its workforce in order to future proof its operations. 

A series of SIBCON 2020 related articles have been earlier written by Manifold Times:

Related: Chairman of Technical Committee for Bunkering explains SS 660, TR 80; and cast an eye to the future
RelatedSIBCON 2020: TR 48 reaps annual savings of at least SGD 80 million for bunkering sector
RelatedSIBCON 2020: Singapore introduces new MFM bunkering standards SS 660 and TR 80
RelatedSIBCON 2020: Powering Fuels of the Future, Driving towards Decarbonisation
Related: SIBCON 2020: Senior Minister highlights ‘quality resilience and sustainability’ for bunkering sector
RelatedInfineum explains: ISO 8217:2017 should be viewed as a ‘minimum performance benchmark’ for VLSFOs
RelatedInterview: Hafnia shares IMO 2020 preparations, promotes transparency for bunkering operations
RelatedVPS: Shipowners face ‘tricky situation’ to balance VLSFO shelf life and wax appearance temperature
RelatedVPS: Big data analysis reveals link between Covid-19 and spike in low flashpoint MGO off-spec cases
RelatedInterview: Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions discusses sector growth, IMO 2020, and future plans
RelatedSIBCON 2020: Evolution to a ‘completely different’ bunkering industry event, says organiser
RelatedSingapore: SIBCON 2020 bunkering event to be hosted virtually

 

Photo credit: SIBCON 2020
Published: 7 October, 2020

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Winding up

Singapore: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Nicholas James Gronow, director of the Singapore-based bunker tanker owner, filed a statutory declaration last year for the company, stating the firm cannot continue their businesses due to its liabilities.

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Several written resolutions for Singapore-based bunker tanker owner Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping Pte Ltd (HTFS) were approved by the sole shareholder of the company on 19 June, according to a post in the Government Gazette on Friday (26 June).

Manifold Times previously reported a director of HTFS filing a statutory declaration (SD) with the Official Receiver’s office stating that the company cannot continue its business due to its liabilities.

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

The duly passed resolutions were:

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS:

  • That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018).
  • That the Liquidators be authorised to exercise any or all of the powers provided under Section 144(1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and 144(2) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018).
  • That the Liquidators be and are hereby authorised to distribute in cash or in specie any or all of the assets of the Company remaining after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities.

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 and are hereby appointed the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up and that the Liquidators be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by them in the execution and discharge of their duties in relation thereto.
  • That the remuneration of the Liquidators be based on their normal scale rates for carrying out the engagement plus disbursements and the prevailing goods-and-services tax and that the Liquidators’ remuneration be paid out of the assets of the Company.

In another notice, the liquidators of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping said creditors for the company are required on or before the 27 July 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:

WONG PHENG CHEONG MARTIN
KOAY MAY YEE
JOINT AND SEVERAL LIQUIDATORS
of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
One Raffles Quay
#27-10 South Tower
Singapore 048583

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: Benjamin child
Published: 29 June, 2026

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Incident

MPA ‘deeply concerned’ over projectile strike on Singapore-registered ship in Hormuz Strait

Container ship “Ever Lovely” sustained minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz on 25 June at about 10pm (Singapore Time).

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Container ship “Ever Lovely”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (26 June) said the Singapore-registered container ship Ever Lovely sustained minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz on 25 June at about 10pm (Singapore Time). 

The vessel has since completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz and is proceeding on its voyage.

“All 21 crew members are safe. There are no Singaporeans onboard,” MPA said in a statement. 

MPA said it will continue to remain in close contact with the vessel’s management company and provide the necessary assistance.

“MPA is deeply concerned about the incident, which was unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law,” it added.

“All actions affecting international shipping must fully comply with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and not endanger the safety of seafarers and ships at sea.”

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Michael Schindler
Published: 29 June, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: MaritimeONE Case Summit 2026 spotlights bunkering, decarbonisation challenges

This year’s challenge statements focus on maritime logistics optimisation, carbon emissions reduction, energy security and bunkering decision-making amid geopolitical uncertainty.

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Singapore: MaritimeONE Case Summit 2026 spotlights bunkering, decarbonisation challenges

The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) recently launched the 7th edition of the MaritimeONE Case Summit, in partnership with industry sponsors. 

Through this annual case competition, students from Singapore’s universities and polytechnics will apply their knowledge to respond to some of the maritime industry’s most pressing challenges, hone teamwork and cross-disciplinary skills, and build professional networks. 

Supported by industry sponsors AET, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Petredec Global and Pacific International Lines (PIL), this year’s challenge statements focus on maritime logistics optimisation, carbon emissions reduction, energy security and bunkering decision-making amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Registration for the competition runs from 24 June to 27 July, with the proof-of-concept submission due 12 August.

Students are invited to form teams of two to four, select one of four challenge statements to work on, and register by the application deadline. Participating teams will then submit a Proof-of-Concept for evaluation. Following the assessment round, shortlisted finalist teams will be mentored to refine their solutions in preparation for the Closed-Door Judging. Winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on 23 October 2026.

“The four challenge statements this year reflect key issues that the maritime industry is navigating today. These span environment, social and governance (ESG), energy security, and technology to augment decision-making. I thank AET, MSC, Petredec Global and PIL for putting forward challenges that give students hands-on opportunities to address practical industry issues with rigour and imagination. Such exposures will equip the students better when they join the maritime industry,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, SMF.

Note: Registration of the competition and more details on the challenge statements can be found here

 

Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Foundation
Published: 29 June, 2026

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