Asia/Pacific News
Singapore Shipping Association: Authorities to Crack Down on Bunker Fraud
Singapore is taking action to avoid becoming known for bunker fraud, Carsten Ostenfeldt, chairman of the Singapore Shipping Association's technical committee, told industry news site ShippingWatch.
"Singapore is very much aware of the dangers of getting a reputation as being a place of where bunker fraud thrives," he said.
"We can't allow this to become the general perception held at shipping offices around the world, because in no time there'd be neighboring countries aspiring to take over parts of the huge bunker trade currently taking place in Singapore."
Ostenfeldt said the shipping association and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) guard against improper practices by updating the standardised bunkering procedure called protocol SS 600:2008 and by using the criminal justice system.
"The people who do this are criminals and will be treated as such," he said.
"There are some people who choose to commit a crime if the gains from stealing another persons property are big enough."
Ostenfeldt said fraud has been reduced in recent years and that it is frequently reported in Singapore only because the area has a highly active bunker trade.
Last month, Singapore fined and jailed a ship's chief engineer over his participation in a bunker fraud scheme.
