High profit, low wages fuel illegal sales of marine gas oil

Some tugboat crew sell fuel to foreign-registered vessels, then doctor logbooks; firms say crime not easy to detect

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The theft and illegal sale of marine gas oil typically involves tugboats that run operations such as moving barges of sand or crushed rocks. Industry insiders say it happens regularly, and is very difficult to prevent or detect.
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The journey of the oil begins on the Singapore mainland.

According to statistics from MPA, close to 50 million tonnes of marine gas oil passed through Singapore last year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 10, 2019, with the headline High profit, low wages fuel illegal sales of marine gas oil. Subscribe