Asia/Pacific News
Singapore Continues Its 'Clamp Down' on Illegal Bunker Sales
Singapore's Police Coast Guard (PCG) says it will continue to actively tackle illegal bunker trading, Channel NewsAsia reports.
A spokesman for the Singapore Police Force says it had arrested 58 people, 6 vessels, and taken SD$22,000 (U.S.$17,363) in cash since 2013.
"The Coast Guard will continue to conduct enforcement operations and checks, as well as engage relevant stakeholders to clamp down on the illegal sales of MGO [Marine Gas Oil]," said the spokesman.
The report suggests that tugboats are modified in order to carry greater quantities of fuel oil than they would ordinarily and then used as transporters for the illegal bunkers.
"These tugboats are a fire hazard and pose a danger to other vessels in the area," added the police spokesman.
Last week, the PCG announced that compared to all of last year there had been a tenfold increase in illegal fuel trade volume so far in 2014.
