Asia/Pacific News
Another Player Exits Singapore Market After MPA Revokes AC Oil's Bunker Licences
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Monday announced that effective July 29, 2016, it has revoked the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of AC Oil Pte Ltd (AC Oil).
The MGO-only supplier had not even held its licences for a complete year, having entered the Singapore market in early August 2015.
MPA said that as part of its on-going regulatory efforts, checks were conducted on AC Oil in May and June of this year that revealed "discrepancies and wrongful declarations" in the records kept on board their bunker tankers.
"There were also separate incidences of bunker transfers between bunker tankers that were conducted without MPA's approval. In addition, despite being licensed to carry only marine gas oil, (a Class C petroleum product), the bunker tankers operated by AC Oil were found to have carried Class B petroleum, a more easily flammable grade (with a lower flash point) as compared to marine gas oil," MPA said in a circular.
"AC Oil's contraventions increased the safety risks to their own tankers, the crews on-boards, and other port users. MPA has revoked AC Oil's licences as they had breached the terms and conditions of their bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences."
AC Oil Pte Ltd will no longer be allowed to operate as a bunker supplier or bunker craft operator in the Port of Singapore.
After top 20 ranked Singapore bunker supplier Searights Maritime Services Pte Ltd (Searights) also exited that market in recent days, AC Oil's exit brings the total number of accredited suppliers in the world's biggest bunkering port to 58.
