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Singapore-based bunker craft operator, New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd, has been convicted in court under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) regulation 64(b) and fined a total of $81,000.

The MPA brought charges against New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd for providing services in the port of Singapore without a bunker craft operator licence between 3rd January 2015 and 28th March 2015. The company was also found to have used the bunker craft operator licence that was issued to Seaquest Tanker Pte Ltd for providing services in the port.

Seaquest Tanker's bunker craft operator licence was revoked by the MPA last year, on 26th April 2016, for the company's involvement with New Ocean Maritime. According to the MPA, investigations showed that its actions had breached the terms and conditions of the licence.

"As the world's largest bunkering port, Singapore seeks to maintain high bunkering standards, covering documentation, equipment standards and verification processes for bunkering operations. To safeguard Singapore's reputation as a trusted and reliable bunkering hub, all bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators operating in the port of Singapore are required to be licensed by MPA," the port authority said.

"MPA adopts a zero tolerance approach towards bunkering malpractices and will not hesitate to take action against any unlicensed entity operating in the port of Singapore," the MPA added.