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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has confirmed that it has cancelled the bunker supplier licences of Excel Petroleum Enterprise Pte. Ltd. and Lian Hoe Leong & Brothers Pte. Ltd. with effect from 15 January 2014 for contravening the terms and conditions of the bunkering licences.

Both companies were said to have breached clause 3 of the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence for bunker suppliers by allowing other companies to use their bunker delivery notes (BDNs) to supply marine fuel.

In a reminder to other bunker companies operating in Singapore, the MPA said: "All licensed bunker suppliers are reminded that under clause 3 of the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence (bunker supplier), bunker suppliers shall not transfer, assign, sublet, share, part with or otherwise dispose of any of their rights, duties, liabilities, obligations and privileges under the terms and conditions of the Licence.

"MPA will not hesitate to suspend or cancel the bunkering licence of any bunker supplier or bunker craft operator that is found to have contravened the terms and conditions of its licences."

The cancellation of the bunkering licences of Excel Petroleum Enterprise and Lian Hoe Leong & Brothers reduces the number of accredited bunker suppliers in Singapore to 66.

In July 2013, the bunker supplier licences of Palmstone Petroleum Pte. Ltd. and Coast-Channels Marine Services Pte. Ltd. were cancelled after the companies were deemed to have allowed another firm to use its BDNs to supply bunker fuel.

The previous month, the bunkering licence of Golden Lights HS Bunkering Pte. Ltd. was also cancelled for allowing another business to use its BDNs to supply marine fuel to clients.

During the same month, another company - Shing Li Shipping Pte. Ltd. - had its bunkering licence as a bunker craft operator cancelled. The firm was said to have breached clause 31 of the terms and conditions of the bunkering licence for delivering bunkers on behalf of an unlicensed company to customers of that company.

Lian Hoe Leong & Brothers was ranked 31st in the MPA's list of bunker suppliers by volume sold in 2012, whilst Excel Petroleum Enterprise was 71st in the list of 71 companies.