Another STX Pan Ocean Vessel in US Arrest, $900,000 More in Unpaid Bunker Claims

The action is the second arrest in the U.S. for STX vessels this month.

Another STX Pan Ocean Co. Ltd (STX) vessel, m/v Pos Leader, has been arrested in the U.S. following fresh claims by World Fuel Services (Singapore) Pte. Ltd (WFS) that the troubled Korean shipping company has failed to pay additional bunker bills totalling $907,570.05.

The amount adds to the claim of $1,055,100 in unpaid bunkers supplied to STX's m/v New Ambition and m/v Ocean Vanguard that ultimately lead to last week's arrest of New Ambition.

In the latest action, documents filed at the U.S. District Court in Seattle on June 13, 2013 name three more vessels said to have received bunkers from WFS, the invoices for which have not been paid to terms.

According to the claim, Pos Leader received bunkers around June 4 in Nakhodka, Russia totalling $646,600, m/v Fresco Voyager received bunkers around May 5, 2013 in Busan, Korea, totalling $192,900, and m/v Mahoni received bunkers around May 9, 2013 in Pyeongtaek, Korea, totalling $61,080.

As with WFS's earlier claim against STX, the supplier says that payment terms for the bunkers were accelerated "as a result of of the STX's actions," citing clause 7(g) in their terms and conditions which, amongst other things, say all invoices are immediately payable if there is a change in the financial circumstances of the buyer that might reasonably jeopardise their ability to pay.

A warrant for the arrest of Pos Leader was filed on Friday June 14, 2013.

This month STX has also had vessels arrested in Singapore and New Zealand,

The shipping company filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, a move said to have put both ship owners and bunker companies at risk of losing money.