Asia/Pacific News
Singapore: Top 20 Singapore Bunker Supplier has Licence Revoked as MPA Takes Action Against Two Players
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Thursday announced that it has revoked the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of top 20 ranked Singapore bunker supplier Vermont UM Bunkering Pte Ltd (Vermont UM Bunkering), along with the bunker craft operator licence of Seaquest Tanker Pte Ltd (Seaquest Tanker) after "discrepancies and wrongful declarations in the records" were found onboard to the companies' two bunker tankers.
MPA says that Seaquest Tanker and Vermont UM Bunkering are no longer permitted to operate as bunker suppliers or bunker craft operators in the Port of Singapore, effective April 26 and April 27, respectively.
The decision is said to come after investigations revealed separate incidences of transfers of bunkers between bunker tankers were conducted by the companies without MPA approval - a breach of the terms and conditions of the companies' bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences.
"MPA reminds all licensed bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of their bunker licences," stated the port authority.
"MPA will take firm action against any licensee who has acted in contravention of their licences, including suspending or revoking their bunker licences, as appropriate."
Vermont UM Bunkering, who was 20th and 18th on the MPAs ranking of suppliers by volume, had been slowly climbing the list in recent years, having been placed at 40th, 34th, and 28th on the list for 2010, 2011, and 2012 respectively, and ranked at 23rd for 2013 before breaking into the top 20 the following year.
Vermont's exit means the number of suppliers in Singapore drops down once again to 59.
In February, Ship & Bunker reported that the world's biggest bunkering port was back up to 60 suppliers after the addition of Harley Marine Asia Pte Ltd.
