Singapore Arrests 8 Tug Crew Members Over Suspected Illegal Marine Gas Oil Transaction

Singapore police have arrested eight crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat over their suspected involvement in the illegal sale of marine gas oil worth about S$10,570.

The men, aged between 25 and 54, were arrested by Police Coast Guard officers during a check on the tugboat in waters off Tuas at about 1:05 a.m. on Aug. 13.

Preliminary investigations found that the crew members had allegedly misappropriated the marine gas oil without their company’s knowledge and sold it illegally for personal financial gain, police said.

The eight men were due to appear in court on Aug. 14 and face charges of theft by servant of property in possession of master under Section 381 of the Penal Code 1871.

If found guilty, they could face up to seven years in prison and a fine.

Police said they take illegal marine gas oil transactions in Singapore territorial waters seriously. They will continue carrying out enforcement and security checks to prevent and detect such activities.

The arrests followed a routine check by the Police Coast Guard on the Singapore-registered tugboat. Further details about the alleged sale and the company involved were not provided.

The case will now proceed through the courts.

What Is Marine Gas Oil?

Marine gas oil, commonly known as MGO, is a type of distillate fuel used to power ships and other marine vessels. It is lighter and more refined than residual fuels such as heavy fuel oil, which have traditionally been widely used in the shipping industry.

Unlike heavier residual fuels, marine gas oil generally does not need to be heated before it can be used in a vessel’s engines. It can be used to power marine engines as well as auxiliary engines and other onboard equipment, depending on the vessel and its fuel systems.

MGO is also used as a lower-sulphur fuel option by ships operating in areas subject to stricter emissions requirements. Vessels may switch from heavier fuel oils to marine gas oil when required to meet applicable sulphur limits.

The use of different marine fuels depends on factors including a vessel’s engine and fuel system, operational requirements and environmental regulations. Marine gas oil remains one of the distillate fuel options used across the shipping industry.

Reference: Singapore Police Force