MPA ramps up fuel testing after contamination of over 200 vessels

Chlorinated Organic Compounds will be included in the list of chemicals for testing.

The Maritime Port Authority (MPA) said it will now test fuels for chlorinated organic compounds (COC) after the same chemical contaminated over 200 vessels in the Port of Singapore.

In a report, MPA said COC will be included in the list of chemicals to be tested under its quality fuel assurance measures, Bunker Quality Inspection System (BQIS), and the Intensified Bunker Quality Checks (IBQC) effective 5 May.

The MPA has also been working with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) on improving the list of chemicals to be tested and their corresponding concentration limits.

Last 14 March, several ships had been supplied with High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) containing high concentration levels of COC, up to 21,000 ppm.

The origin of the contamination was traced back to fuel purchased by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd (Glencore) in January and February 2022 purchased through Straits Pinnacle Pte Ltd1 (Straits Pinnacle), which had contracted its supply from Unicious Energy Pte Ltd 2 (Unicious).

"The contaminated HSFO was loaded at the Port of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) onto a tanker and shipped to floating storage facilities in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended" MPA reported.

"The blended HSFO was subsequently delivered to storage facilities in Singapore. Part of the blended HSFO was also sold by Glencore to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd (PetroChina),." the authority added.

Follow the link for more news on

Maritime Port Authority

fuel testing

If you've been wondering whether SBR could work for your company — yes, probably.

A lot of the companies we partner with started as readers. They'd been following our coverage for a while, saw their own customers and competitors in it, and eventually asked the obvious question: could we do something with you? The answer is usually yes. The shape of it depends on what you're trying to do.

The options are broader than most people assume — thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. Some partners use one channel; most use a mix. We figure out the right combination by starting with your brief, not with our rate card.

So if the question has been on your mind, here's the easy way to ask it.

We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia