Asia/Pacific News
Singapore Sees Increase in Arrests for Illegal Bunker Fuel Trade
Singapore's Police Coast Guard (PCG) says there has already been a tenfold increase by volume in reported illegal fuel oil trades, compared to those reported for the whole of 2013, Seatrade Global reports.
From January to July of this year PCG says it is aware of around 60 tonnes of bunkers having been illegally traded, which was said to represent trades worth more than $50,500, however the increase in volume traded is largely attributable to one particular transaction in which 50 tonnes of oil changed hands.
The number of arrests is also up, with 32 arrests between January and July this year versus 26 for the whole of 2013.
The traded oil is understood to have been stolen from vessels moored in Singaporean waters and then sold, or intended for sale, outside territorial waters.
The PCG works with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore as well as the territory's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to detect such activity which carries heavy sentences.
Illegal fuel dealers were said to adapt the fuel tanks of commercial vessels to carry more fuel than usual.
Earlier this year, 6 men were arrested on board a tugboat in Singaporean waters on suspicion of involvement of illegal bunker trading.
