PETREL 8
Die letzten Häfen
Die letzten Wegpunkte
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Businessman charged with providing flag registration services
A Singaporean has been charged with providing flag registration services to a UN-designated vessel accused of carrying prohibited cargoes from North Korea. David Chong Kwok Yong, 49, faced one count of abetting Niue Ship Registry in registering the 'Petrel 8' under the flag of the South Pacific island nation. Singapore’s Commercial Affairs Department alleges that the registration was provided between May 18 and Aug 18, 2022, despite Chong having reasonable grounds to believe the vessel was involved in transporting prohibited North Korean items. The UN Security Council designated the 'Petrel 8' in Oct 2017 under sanctions resolutions targeting Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction programmes and associated maritime activity. Chong is listed in Singapore corporate records as a director and managing director of Niue Ship Registry, which was incorporated in 2002. Singapore’s sanctions regulations were prohibiting services being supplied to vessels where there are reasonable grounds to believe they have supported North Korean proliferation activities. Chong did not indicate a plea during the court hearing on July 21, 2026. He has been released on bail and was expected to return to court next month. If convicted, he could be facing up to 10 years in prison, a fine of as much as S$500,000 ($387,000), or both. The Niue Ship Registry was being charged separately over the same alleged registration. The company could face a fine of up to S$1m.
North Korean ships banned from global port calls
The United Nations has banned four ships from visiting any global port, after they were found violating sanctions imposed on North Korea, the "Petrel 8", "Hao Fan 6", "Tong San 2" and "Jie Shun". The UN Security Council expanded sanctions on North Korea last month in response to Pyongyang's sixth and largest nuclear test yet. The ban was announced following a UN meeting on Oct 9, 2017. The ships were found transporting prohibited goods. The ban, which went into effect on Oct, did not entail asset freezes or travel bans. In August, a UN resolution banned exports of coal, seafood and iron ore from North Korea. Sanctions were expanded last month to include the export of textiles and North Korean guest workers, as well as a cap on oil imports. The tightening of trade restrictions followed Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test and the firing of two missiles over Japan. North Korea's main economic partner China has signed up to the measures, along with Russia. Both have previously vetoed harsher sanctions on the secretive state.
Insane master disabled by crew
The "Jal Vahini" was entering Visakhapatnam port in the afternoon of Aug 4, 2014, when officers and crew attacked the master of the vessel thus preventing a disaster. The master of the bulk carrier made an attempt to steer his vessel into port around 3 p.m. LT. The bulk carrier had been waiting anchored outside the port to load a Jindal Steel consignment but suddenly it was seen approaching a jetty without been permitted to. The harbour pilot and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel manning the port managed to board the "Jal Vahini". Having overpowered the captain, they switched off the engine. The master and crew were taken into custody and an hour later the bulk carrier was berthed at Ore Berth-1. Prior the incident, the vessel's captain, Manmohan Saba, asked the port control for permission to enter. Having the cargo not ready, the permission was denied. Manmohan Saba insisted stating the vessel had technical issues but his vessel was still refused in port. It was then when he started steering the "Jal Vahini" into harbour. The port control gave repeated warnings and when he still failed to stop, VPT followed the standard protocol of informing the CISF, Coast guard and Indian Navy after which the harbour pilot boarded the ship and defused the situation. Manmohan Saba was allegedly mentally disturbed for the past one week. The crew had complained to their shipping company and a replacement was about to be sent. The master had problems with the company. Last week, he forcibly docked "Jal Vahini" at Colombo port for two days after a quarrel with the crew. Currently only the master was in custody, and still there are conflicting reports on what exactly happened. The vessel, coming from Colombo, had arrived at Visalhapatnam to load a cargo of steel.
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