The Singapore port authority said its investigations in May and June this year showed AC Oil made wrongful declarations in its records onboard their bunker tankers, and there were incidences of bunker transfers between bunker tankers 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 explained.
“AC Oil’s contraventions increased the safety risks to their own tankers, the crews onboards, 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,” it said.
The investigation on AC Oil is part of MPA’s ongoing regulatory efforts to ensure the safety, reliability and quanlity of bunker supplies in Singapore, which is the world’s largest bunkering port by sales volume.
As at 27 July 2016, MPA listed 59 licensed, or accredited, bunker suppliers in Singapore, including AC Oil.
The last time that MPA took such similar action was in April this year when it revoked the bunker craft operator licence of Seaquest Tanker and the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of Vermont UM Bunkering for their breach of the terms of their licences.
Over the last few years, MPA has revoked the bunkering licences of several bunker suppliers for breaching the licensing requirements, due mainly to allowing other companies to use their government-approved Bunker Delivery Notes (BDNs) to supply bunkers.
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