Dear Editor,

Reference is made to an article that appeared in Bunkerworld on December 10, 2009, on the subject of “Singapore supplier offered bribes of $52,500”.

The article implied that a Maritec bunker surveyor was involved in the graft for the bunker delivery made to the vessel Bunga Kelana 6. As the case has gone through due process of law and made public, Maritec is now in a position to state the following facts for your information.

The Maritec surveyor accepted the payment while acting on instruction from the government agency and was not a party to the intended graft.

The loss to the ship-owner for the potential short delivery of 300 metric tonnes (mt) of fuel would have amounted to $210,000. Maritec is pleased that we were able to assist the authorities in this graft case and also to protect our customer's interest.

Maritec does not condone graft or fraud in the bunker industry and maintains very strict standards on our surveyors' integrity. As a condition of employment as a Maritec surveyor it is compulsory that the applicant accepts polygraph testing and oath taking under the Statutory Act 2000 whenever required by Maritec.

The use of the polygraph provides Maritec with a scientific tool to confirm the integrity of our surveyors. The declaration as per the provisions of the Oaths and Declaration Act (Cap 211) are subject to the penalties provided for by the Act for making of false statements in statutory declarations.

Maritec is not at liberty to discuss more details of the case. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) can be contacted for further information.

Rex Lim Lee Lian
Managing Director
Maritec Pte Ltd