Asia/Pacific News
Singapore Sees 50% Increase in Ship Arrests
There were over 50% more ship arrests in Singapore during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year.
Official statistics from the Supreme Court of Singapore show that in the first quarter of 2012 there were a total of 31 warrants of arrest filed and the number of ships arrested was 26.
In Q1 2011 there were 21 warrants of arrest filed and the number of ships arrested was 17.
In 2011 as a whole 84 ships were arrested in the world's largest bunkering port, and 95 warrants of arrest were filed.
There has been a "definite increase" in ship arrests in Singapore compared to last year, legal firms and bunker traders in Singapore were quoted by Platts as saying on Wednesday.
While exact figures were not given for their total activity, one lawyer had said that earlier this year his firm was involved in arresting and releasing two ships in separate incidents in one single weekend.
Another lawyer was quoted as saying his firm's activity involving the arresting and releasing of vessels for Q1 in 2012 was greater than in the same period last year.
