The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a container ship on 7 December for anchoring without permission, which is a violation of maritime regulations.
The detention followed information received from the Area Control Centre (ACC) SWASLA Klang, which had detected the ship’s suspicious position earlier that morning. The Central Region Port Authority (JLWT) reported that the vessel lacked the necessary anchoring permit from the Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Department.
Acting on this information, a Maritime Malaysia patrol boat was dispatched to the location, where the ship was subsequently detained. The container ship is registered in Panama and carries a crew of 20 men, including the captain, aged between 30 and 59 years. All crew members are Chinese nationals with valid identification documents.
Upon further inspection, it was found that the captain could not present any anchoring permit. He is now suspected of violating Section 491B (1) (l) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for anchoring without the required permission from the Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Department. If convicted, the captain could face a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
A detention order for the ship has been issued, and the captain, along with one crew member, was brought to the Selangor Maritime Headquarters for further investigation. The MMEA stressed its commitment to enforcing maritime laws to ensure the safety and security of Malaysia’s waters, particularly in Selangor.
Shipping operators and vessel owners are advised to obtain an anchoring permit from the Malaysian Maritime Department and comply with all regulations before engaging in any activities in Malaysian waters.
