34 ships got contaminated supplies from SINGAPORE suffered failure fuel system "loss of power and propulsion creating a blackout"

[nirvarq]

Ships face power blackouts from contaminated fuel in Singapore​

A growing number of ships that received contaminated marine fuel at the major hub of Singapore have suffered power blackouts, according to fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services.
PHOTO: AFP

[SINGAPORE] A growing number of ships that received contaminated marine fuel at the major hub of Singapore have suffered power blackouts, according to fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services.

The company identified 34 ships that got contaminated supplies over February and March, of which almost half suffered a failure of the fuel system that led to a "loss of power and propulsion creating a blackout", Veritas Petroleum said in a notice dated Mar 31 seen by Bloomberg. The company said the tainted fuel came from 2 suppliers in Singapore, without naming them.

Veritas Petroleum and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore didn't immediately respond to requests for more information when contacted on the matter.


Singapore is the largest marine fuel supplier in the world and sits at the crossroads of a centuries-old trade route that links Asia to Europe, the Middle East and the US Gulf Coast. Marine insurer Gard said in a statement that some of the vessels it insures had suffered operational issues including blackouts, and in some cases ships needed to be towed back to port.

Veritas Petroleum said the ships in Singapore received high-sulfur fuel oil, and that the supplies actually met the required ISO 8217 specifications upon each delivery. However, a more detailed screening of the fuel samples showed they were contaminated with up to 2,000 parts per million of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Contaminations have the potential to damage the engine and lead to costly repairs.

Ships losing power at sea can be extremely dangerous, increasing the risk of collision or running aground. In 2018, numerous vessels suffered serious technical problems and mechanical damages after receiving contaminated fuel initially supplied in Houston. BLOOMBERG

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/tr...blackouts-from-contaminated-fuel-in-singapore

 

[mojito]

Orrr... Not we cheat money, is they fuel tank dirty. Should have wash first lah hahah. All is well.

 

[syed putra]

Why never name the bunker supplier? Must be a big oil company. The ship crew probably sold the high quality fuel and mixed it with something else.

 

[nirvarq]

Jail for former Shell employee who masterminded S$128m marine fuel heist at Pulau Bukom​

A tanker vessel docked at Shell refinery on Pulau Bukom off Singapore. (File photo: AFP/Roslan RAHMAN)


SINGAPORE: A former Shell employee was jailed on Thursday (Mar 31) for 29 years for his role in a S$128 million marine fuel heist at the company's refinery in Singapore.
Juandi Pungot, 45, pleaded guilty last month to 36 charges of criminal breach of trust, laundering his proceeds from criminal conduct and giving bribes. Another 49 charges were considered for sentencing.
He was one of three masterminds in the long-running heist that involved illegally loading bunkers with stolen marine fuel from Pulau Bukom refinery, Shell's largest petrochemical production and export centre in Asia Pacific.
Juandi reaped at least S$5.6 million in criminal proceeds, the bulk of which he spent on designer watches, vehicles, local and overseas properties and investments, foreign exchange trading and gambling.
These included an investment in The 3 Amigoes restaurant, the purchase of a condominium unit in Bangkok and more than S$500,000 worth of casino chips at the Marina Bay Sands Casino.
The prosecution had sought a jail term of 29 years and 11 months, while the defence argued for 15 years imprisonment.
Delivering the verdict in the High Court, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng said the crimes were "exceptionally serious" and "unprecedented in scale and complexity".
The syndicate's activities affected Singapore's reputation as a commercial hub and "hit at the heart of the bunkering and petrochemical industry, a key component of Singapore's economy", added the judge.
In sentencing, Justice Hoo also considered the premeditated and sophisticated nature of the offences, the spectre of organised crime that they raised and the transnational element through the involvement of foreign vessels.

HOW IT STARTED​

Juandi joined Shell in 2004 as a process technician. By the time his employment was terminated in December 2017, he was a shore loading officer earning about S$6,000 a month.
The court previously heard that his job scope was primarily to facilitate the transfer of Shell's petroleum products at Pulau Bukom to client vessels.
Juandi and his colleague Abdul Latif Ibrahim first came up with the idea of stealing marine fuel in 2007, when they were deployed to work in the same team, Team D. They recruited a third "key mastermind", Muzaffar Ali Khan, sometime after.
From 2008 to 2013, they expanded their criminal enterprise to include two other members of Team D, and increased the number of illegal loadings to about twice monthly.
Juandi and his associates would receive between S$10,000 and S$15,000 for each illegal loading.
Sometime in 2013, after a dispute about how Latif had been distributing the criminal proceeds, he requested a transfer to another team.
The illegal loadings stopped for a period of time after Latif's departure from Team D, as he had been the primary point of contact with the vessels that bought stolen fuel.
Once Juandi and his associates were able to establish their own contacts, they resumed their illegal loadings. In 2014, they recruited three more members into the syndicate.
They also started targeting vessels with Vietnamese and Greek captains. This was because it was "well-known in the industry that such individuals would readily conduct illegal oil trading", according to Juandi, as stated in court documents.
In December 2015, they entered an agreement to perform illegal loadings for vessels belonging to Vietnam-based Prime Shipping Corporation.
The syndicate's activities continued to grow as they struck deals to perform illegal loadings for Sentek vessels and vessels from Sirius Marine in 2017.
The heist came to light on Aug 1, 2017, when a Shell representative made a police report that the company had suffered an unidentified loss of fuel amounting to about S$3 million in April that year.

HOW THE SYNDICATE WORKED​

To broker deals for illegal loadings, a shore loading officer in the syndicate would engage the captain of a vessel to make an offer for the sale of stolen marine fuel.
The stolen fuel was sold at a price lower than the prevailing estimated market value at the time, which could be derived from the S&P Global Platts index.
The price varied, but the stolen fuel was often sold at about S$285 per tonne when transferred to bunkers, and US$220 to US$250 when transferred to tankers.
The syndicate adopted various methods to escape detection, according to the prosecution.
They configured the flow of the stolen fuel through carefully planned routes that avoided custody transfer meters.
They also ensured that multiple pumps and tanks were moving at the same time, including unnecessary tank-to-tank transfers, to mask what was going on.
The syndicate would try to hide the theft of fuel by shifting the production of gas oil to the same tank, so that the level in the tank appeared balanced or even increasing.
They also carefully timed their activities against legitimate transfers of purchased fuel, for instance, pausing the legitimate loadings to carry out their illegal loadings.
The syndicate was also able to avoid detection by other colleagues and supervisors due to their "combined in-depth knowledge of Shell's internal systems and deliberate evasive steps", said the prosecution.
One of the syndicate members would manipulate the oil control panel to help mask the movement of the stolen fuel.
They would distract a supervisor if necessary, such as by giving excuses about the delays caused by illegal loadings.
They would also tamper with the bunker meter as well as the orientation of the CCTV cameras to ensure their criminal activities were not recorded.
Their activities were coordinated in group chats on their mobile phones, which they would subsequently delete.
They also paid off individuals who caught on to the offences to maintain their silence. This included nearly S$275,000 in bribes to six independent surveyors who signed off on the volumes of fuel transfers to vessels.
Following the discovery of the large-scale misappropriation, Shell invested about S$6 million to improve systems and processes at Pulau Bukom.
These include new and additional custody transfer meters and anti-theft CCTV cameras, development of monitoring software to detect potential theft of gas oil and creation of new permanent positions to strengthen supervision.
Source: CNA/dv(mi)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pulau-bukom-stolen-fuel-gas-oil-mastermind-jailed-2599081

 

[nirvarq]

Man linked to Shell heist admits to offences involving stolen gas oil worth more than $59m​

Muhamad Farhan Mohamed Rashid arriving at State Courts on March 29, 2022. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent

PUBLISHED

MAR 29, 2022, 3:17 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE - A man linked to a massive conspiracy to misappropriate gas oil from Shell Eastern Petroleum's Pulau Bukom site has admitted to offences involving the stolen fuel worth US$44,018,727 ($59,867,669) in total.
Muhamad Farhan Mohamed Rashid, now 34, received more than $735,000 in ill-gotten gains for his role in the offences, which were committed between 2014 and 2016.
Farhan, who joined the firm around 2010, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (March 29) to 13 counts of criminal breach of trust.
He also pleaded guilty to four counts of dealing with the benefits of his criminal conduct involving nearly $270,000 and one count of drug consumption.
Another 25 charges will be considered during sentencing.
Gas oil is crude oil that has gone through the refining process. It is often used as commercial fuel and in some countries, as an alternative to diesel.
One of the masterminds behind the heist, Juandi Pungot, 45, was convicted last month of siphoning nearly $128 million worth of gas oil, which was meant to be used as marine fuel.

Prosecutors are seeking a jail term of 359 months - a month shy of 30 years - for Juandi who admitted that he began embezzling gas oil from his former employer in 2007.
He is the first of three key players to be dealt with for his role in the conspiracy.
The cases involving several other people are still pending.
They include Koh Choon Wei, 39; Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 41; Tiah Kok Hwee, 45; and Abdul Latif Ibrahim, 64.
Two other men who were process technicians were convicted earlier.
Muhammad Ashraf Hamzah, then 39, was sentenced to 9½ years' jail for misappropriating gas oil worth nearly US$25 million between 2014 and 2016.
Sadagopan Premnath, then 40, was sentenced to six years and eight months' jail for his role in misappropriating gas oil worth about US$36.1 million between 2017 and 2018.
Shell Pulau Bukom is the oil company's largest petrochemical production and export centre in the Asia Pacific region.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
3 former Shell employees linked to $200m gas oil heist charged with graft
40 more charges for ex-MD allegedly linked to conspiracy involving $1.9m in stolen oil
Deputy Public Prosecutors Christopher Ong, Stephanie Chew and Ryan Lim stated in court documents that Juandi and Abdul Latif first started conspiring to misappropriate gas oil from Shell in 2007.
The prosecutors told the court that Muzaffar, described as another key mastermind, was recruited some time between end-2007 and early 2008.
Farhan joined Shell Eastern Petroleum in 2010.
On Tuesday, the court heard that his role in the firm was "either to be a process technician or control panel operator".
According to court documents, Juandi and Muzaffar recruited Farhan into the criminal syndicate in 2014.
The DPPs said Farhan's primary role during the incidents of misappropriation was to open and close a bypass valve to facilitate the transfer of gas oil.
They added: "The accused and Juandi used walkie-talkies to communicate. On Juandi's timing, the accused would open the bypass valve and report back to Juandi that he had done so.
"After the misappropriated gas oil had been fully transferred to a vessel, Juandi would give another signal to the accused through the walkie-talkie, who would close the valve and return to his work."
Farhan was also responsible for starting the manual operation of pumps.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
High profit, low wages fuel illegal sales of marine gas oil
11 men arrested for illegal sale of marine gas oil worth $97,000
On Juandi's timing, Farhan would operate a panel inside the Movement Control Room and switch on the pumps using "manual mode", which enabled the pumping of misappropriated gas oil into the vessels.
Occasionally, if Juandi was in the Movement Control Room, Farhan also acted as a lookout and was instructed to alert Juandi if anyone was close to it.
Farhan admitted that he had used his ill-gotten gains to buy items including a $119,511 car in 2016.
The prosecutors said: "Some time in January 2017, Muzaffar suggested to the accused and Juandi that they set up a restaurant business together.
"They agreed, and eventually set up a halal Japanese restaurant called Hararu Izakaya Restaurant.
"As the restaurant required an initial start-up capital of $250,000, Muzaffar, Juandi and the accused agreed that Muzaffar and Juandi would contribute $100,000 each while the accused contributed $50,000 in exchange for a 20 per cent share in the business."
A Shell representative lodged a police report on Aug 1, 2017, stating that the company had suffered an unidentified loss of fuel.
In an unrelated case, Farhan also admitted to consuming methamphetamine last year.
His mitigation and sentencing will take place on May 26.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...nvolving-stolen-gas-oil-worth-more-than-us44m

 

[syed putra]

Juandi and his associates would receive between S$10,000 and S$15,000 for each illegal loading.
Sometime in 2013, after a dispute about how Latif had been distributing the criminal proceeds, he requested a transfer to another team.

Muhamad Farhan Mohamed Rashid, now 34, received more than $735,000 in ill-gotten gains for his role in the offences, which were committed between 2014 and 2016

For the amount stolen, these guys got was pathetic,. Who made the bulk of the profit? Some chinaman in bunker biz who is still free. Like jho low.

 

[Pinkieslut]

Must be Russian Chiobu agents!

 

[laksaboy]

Told you to turn Jurong Island into another resort island.

 

[laksaboy]

Veritas Petroleum said the ships in Singapore received high-sulfur fuel oil, and that the supplies actually met the required ISO 8217 specifications upon each delivery. However, a more detailed screening of the fuel samples showed they were contaminated with up to 2,000 parts per million of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Contaminations have the potential to damage the engine and lead to costly repairs.

Sounds like the hawker centre's drink stall diluting your sugar cane juice with water.

 

[tobelightlight]

Reputation is tarnished already. no more trust on Sg oil. The old batch leader's hard work all gone to the drain. Thanks to the useless current clowns.

 

[gingerlyn]

Now I know why many Malay and Indian men like to work night shifts. It is simple, they can indulge in illegal activities

 

[iluvgst]

This is the reason why the kra canal must be built.

 

[jw5]

Sounds like the hawker centre's drink stall diluting your sugar cane juice with water.

Sugar cane is bestest with lemon.

 

[laksaboy]

Now I know why many Malay and Indian men like to work night shifts. It is simple, they can indulge in illegal activities

Cooler at night and less busybodies.

 

[Loofydralb]

Ships face power blackouts from contaminated fuel in Singapore​

View attachment 140287
A growing number of ships that received contaminated marine fuel at the major hub of Singapore have suffered power blackouts, according to fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services.
PHOTO: AFP

[SINGAPORE] A growing number of ships that received contaminated marine fuel at the major hub of Singapore have suffered power blackouts, according to fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services.

The company identified 34 ships that got contaminated supplies over February and March, of which almost half suffered a failure of the fuel system that led to a "loss of power and propulsion creating a blackout", Veritas Petroleum said in a notice dated Mar 31 seen by Bloomberg. The company said the tainted fuel came from 2 suppliers in Singapore, without naming them.

Veritas Petroleum and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore didn't immediately respond to requests for more information when contacted on the matter.


Singapore is the largest marine fuel supplier in the world and sits at the crossroads of a centuries-old trade route that links Asia to Europe, the Middle East and the US Gulf Coast. Marine insurer Gard said in a statement that some of the vessels it insures had suffered operational issues including blackouts, and in some cases ships needed to be towed back to port.

Veritas Petroleum said the ships in Singapore received high-sulfur fuel oil, and that the supplies actually met the required ISO 8217 specifications upon each delivery. However, a more detailed screening of the fuel samples showed they were contaminated with up to 2,000 parts per million of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Contaminations have the potential to damage the engine and lead to costly repairs.

Ships losing power at sea can be extremely dangerous, increasing the risk of collision or running aground. In 2018, numerous vessels suffered serious technical problems and mechanical damages after receiving contaminated fuel initially supplied in Houston. BLOOMBERG

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/tr...blackouts-from-contaminated-fuel-in-singapore

Chlorinated hydrocarbons are some of the most corrosive fuel contaminants.
When burnt it becomes hydrochloric acid and will destroy pistons, rings, valve seats, turbochargers (especially because lower temperatures there will drop below acid dewpoint).

Man linked to Shell heist admits to offences involving stolen gas oil worth more than $59m​

View attachment 140290

Muhamad Farhan Mohamed Rashid arriving at State Courts on March 29, 2022. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent

PUBLISHED

MAR 29, 2022, 3:17 PM SGT

FacebookTwitter

SINGAPORE - A man linked to a massive conspiracy to misappropriate gas oil from Shell Eastern Petroleum's Pulau Bukom site has admitted to offences involving the stolen fuel worth US$44,018,727 ($59,867,669) in total.
Muhamad Farhan Mohamed Rashid, now 34, received more than $735,000 in ill-gotten gains for his role in the offences, which were committed between 2014 and 2016.
Farhan, who joined the firm around 2010, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (March 29) to 13 counts of criminal breach of trust.
He also pleaded guilty to four counts of dealing with the benefits of his criminal conduct involving nearly $270,000 and one count of drug consumption.
Another 25 charges will be considered during sentencing.
Gas oil is crude oil that has gone through the refining process. It is often used as commercial fuel and in some countries, as an alternative to diesel.
One of the masterminds behind the heist, Juandi Pungot, 45, was convicted last month of siphoning nearly $128 million worth of gas oil, which was meant to be used as marine fuel.

Prosecutors are seeking a jail term of 359 months - a month shy of 30 years - for Juandi who admitted that he began embezzling gas oil from his former employer in 2007.
He is the first of three key players to be dealt with for his role in the conspiracy.
The cases involving several other people are still pending.
They include Koh Choon Wei, 39; Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 41; Tiah Kok Hwee, 45; and Abdul Latif Ibrahim, 64.
Two other men who were process technicians were convicted earlier.
Muhammad Ashraf Hamzah, then 39, was sentenced to 9½ years' jail for misappropriating gas oil worth nearly US$25 million between 2014 and 2016.
Sadagopan Premnath, then 40, was sentenced to six years and eight months' jail for his role in misappropriating gas oil worth about US$36.1 million between 2017 and 2018.
Shell Pulau Bukom is the oil company's largest petrochemical production and export centre in the Asia Pacific region.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
3 former Shell employees linked to $200m gas oil heist charged with graft
40 more charges for ex-MD allegedly linked to conspiracy involving $1.9m in stolen oil
Deputy Public Prosecutors Christopher Ong, Stephanie Chew and Ryan Lim stated in court documents that Juandi and Abdul Latif first started conspiring to misappropriate gas oil from Shell in 2007.
The prosecutors told the court that Muzaffar, described as another key mastermind, was recruited some time between end-2007 and early 2008.
Farhan joined Shell Eastern Petroleum in 2010.
On Tuesday, the court heard that his role in the firm was "either to be a process technician or control panel operator".
According to court documents, Juandi and Muzaffar recruited Farhan into the criminal syndicate in 2014.
The DPPs said Farhan's primary role during the incidents of misappropriation was to open and close a bypass valve to facilitate the transfer of gas oil.
They added: "The accused and Juandi used walkie-talkies to communicate. On Juandi's timing, the accused would open the bypass valve and report back to Juandi that he had done so.
"After the misappropriated gas oil had been fully transferred to a vessel, Juandi would give another signal to the accused through the walkie-talkie, who would close the valve and return to his work."
Farhan was also responsible for starting the manual operation of pumps.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
High profit, low wages fuel illegal sales of marine gas oil
11 men arrested for illegal sale of marine gas oil worth $97,000
On Juandi's timing, Farhan would operate a panel inside the Movement Control Room and switch on the pumps using "manual mode", which enabled the pumping of misappropriated gas oil into the vessels.
Occasionally, if Juandi was in the Movement Control Room, Farhan also acted as a lookout and was instructed to alert Juandi if anyone was close to it.
Farhan admitted that he had used his ill-gotten gains to buy items including a $119,511 car in 2016.
The prosecutors said: "Some time in January 2017, Muzaffar suggested to the accused and Juandi that they set up a restaurant business together.
"They agreed, and eventually set up a halal Japanese restaurant called Hararu Izakaya Restaurant.
"As the restaurant required an initial start-up capital of $250,000, Muzaffar, Juandi and the accused agreed that Muzaffar and Juandi would contribute $100,000 each while the accused contributed $50,000 in exchange for a 20 per cent share in the business."
A Shell representative lodged a police report on Aug 1, 2017, stating that the company had suffered an unidentified loss of fuel.
In an unrelated case, Farhan also admitted to consuming methamphetamine last year.
His mitigation and sentencing will take place on May 26.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...nvolving-stolen-gas-oil-worth-more-than-us44m

According to my sources, most of the Malays who work in Bukom are some of the dumbest and laziest Malays you can find anywhere. They come to work late, makes excuses for not completing work, take MCs, sleep at work most of the time, fight with their superiors and among themselves.
And this year they will be paid 10 months bonus (normal years, minimum 6 months) due to Ukraine.
But they say not all, there are a few brilliant ones la but mgmt scared of these brilliant ones and will manouvre to remove or retard their promotion.