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Crew members jailed after oil theft and oil spill

11 crew members on two ships were jailed between six weeks and four months on Jan 20, 2023, for stealing 4,200 litres of gasoil from one of the vessels in Singapore on Dec 21, 2022, when the 'PW Iota' and the Mongolia-flagged 'Sanyu' were docked next to each other at the Inparco shipyard in Singapore. Around 8 p.m., Pareng Budiman, the master of the 'Banyu', shouted at the tug's crew, enquiring if they had any gasoil to sell. its chief engineer, Yohanis Baturapa, conveyed the request to his vessel master, Aswar Mansyur. Following negotiations, Aswar agreed to sell some excess gasoil on the 'PW Iota' for US$600/tonne. He decided to execute the fuel transfer on Dec 22 at 2 a.m. LT, as the shipyard would be deserted at that time. Both ships were fastened together with ropes. However, just 30 minutes later, as the gasoil was being transferred through a fuel hose, they were caught red-handed by patrolling officers from the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA). They frantically disconnected the fuel hose, resulting in some oil spillage on the 'PW Iota'. PACC’s subsidiary, Pacific Workboats, which owns the tug, conducted tests showing that 4,208 litres of gasoil were stolen, and the siphoned fuel was valued at US$3,261. The 11 men pleaded guilty to criminal breach of trust and receiving stolen property. The tug master, Aswar Mansyur received the heaviest sentence, four-month imprisonment.