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.