Elektrans Global Pte Ltd is being wound up by director Daniel Chopra and liquidators have been appointed, according to the Singapore Government Gazette.
The Singapore-registered company was part of the tanker operation built up by Daniel Chopra. The group had been an operator of elderly tankers based in India, but in April 2016 the group recruited Michael Elwert from Thome to take on the group chief executive officer role.
Younger vessels joined the group, and Glen D’Costa was recruited to its executive board. He has been managing partner of Gauri Ships, jointly owned by him and Daniel Chopra. Mr D’Costa’s credentials include helping to grow Singapore-headquartered Epic Ship Management’s fleet from three oil tankers in 2004 to around 50 vessels now.
Several plans were hatched, but Elektrans’ period of expansion has faltered.
In an exclusive interview with Tanker Shipping & Trade, Elektrans Shipping Pte Ltd director Daniel Chopra explained that Elektrans Global was set up as a company from which the salaries of the senior managers were paid.
According to Daniel Chopra, these managers have left the business, and Elektrans Global is no longer required. “Please don’t read too much into this,” Mr Chopra told Tanker Shipping & Trade.
“We continue to operate in Singapore as before through Elektrans Shipping Pte Ltd.”
The last few years have been difficult for the Elektrans group. In 2017, the crew of Distya Ameya took to Facebook to protest about unpaid wages. Distya Pushti, another Elektrans-controlled tanker, was arrested for unpaid wages and a third vessel, Distya Akula was arrested by a supplier for unpaid bunkers.
Elektrans stated it was manager only for the above vessels, and that the above payments had been delayed by the owners.
Then in 2018, the Elektrans-controlled chemical tanker Nu Shi Nalini exploded when undergoing repairs off the port of Cochin in June 2018. One crewmember was killed.
According to Mr Chopra, the 2012-built vessel is being repaired and is for sale.
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