The bunkering licences of Northwest Resources were cancelled with effect from 1 September 2014.
The licences cancellation follows the conviction of Leong Kok Kheong, director of Northwest Resources, for 50 counts of bunkering-related offences committed in May and June 2008.
Leong was convicted on 29 April this year after he pleaded guilty to 15 charges, with the rest taken into consideration. He was sentenced to a total of 21 weeks imprisonment and fined a total of SGD375,000 ($298,650).
MPA’s investigations on Northwest Resources disclosed breaches by the company on the terms and conditions of their bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences, resulting in the suspension.
“MPA does not condone illegal practices in the bunkering industry, and will take firm action against any bunker supplier or bunker craft operator who has acted in contravention of their bunker licences, including suspending or cancelling their bunker licences, as appropriate,” MPA said in a statement.
In May this year, MPA had charged Singapore-based Progressive Power for supplying bunker fuels in Singapore port without possessing a valid bunker supplier licence.
Since June 2012, the port authority has also revoked the bunkering licences of seven domestic bunker companies for breaching the licensing requirements due mainly to allowing other companies to use their government-approved Bunker Devliery Notes (BDNs) to supply bunkers.
As at 5 September 2014, Singapore has 63 accredited, or licensed, bunker suppliers.
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