SINGAPORE (Oct 15): The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has revoked the bunker craft operator licence of Inter-Pacific Petroleum.
With effect from today, Inter-Pacific will not be allowed to operate tankers used to load marine fuel, known as bunker fuel, onto ships in the Port of Singapore, MPA says in a statement.
Inter-Pacific’s bunker craft operator license had been suspended in June this year following an enforcement check on one of Inter-Pacific’s bunker tankers.
The port authority says checks were conducted on the company this year as part of its “ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of bunkering in Singapore”.
During the checks and subsequent investigations, numerous Mass Flow Meter readings across Inter-Pacific’s fleet of bunker tankers were found to have “magnetic interferences” that affected measurements of bunkers supplied.
Inter-Pacific had also failed to ensure that its employees, including its cargo officers, comply with the terms and conditions of its licence, MPA adds.
The port authority stresses that it will take firm action against any licensee who has acted in contravention of its licence, and reminds all bunker licensees to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of their licences.
In May, the MPA had revoked the bunker craft operator and bunker supplier licences of Southernpec, after the company was found to have used magnets to tamper with onboard mass flow meters during bunkering ops.
