The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a Singaporean tugboat along with a barge approximately 3.5 nautical miles west of Pulau Harimau.
The Director of the Mersing Maritime Zone, Maritime Commander Suhaizan bin Saadin, said the tugboat and barge were detained by a Malaysian Maritime patrol team conducting Op Jaksa and Op Tiris. Upon inspection, it was found that the two Singaporean vessels were suspected of committing offenses by not reporting their arrival and anchoring without permission from the Director of the Malaysian Marine Department.
Document checks revealed that all seven crew members from both vessels were Indonesian nationals aged between 25 and 44, including the captain.
The boat and crew were detained and brought to the Mersing Maritime jetty to be handed over to Malaysian Maritime investigators for investigation under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will not compromise on any illegal activities and remains committed to continuing operations and patrols throughout the Malaysian Maritime Zone (MMZ) to curb illegal activities in the country’s waters.
… said the authority in a statement
To remind, MMEA also detained tanker Azumasan on May 10th, for anchoring without permission off Sekinchan.
