MERSING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a Singapore-registered tugboat along with its barge approximately 3.5 nautical miles (6.4km) west of Pulau Harimau, here.
Mersing zone MMEA director Maritime Commander Suhaizan Saadin said both vessels were detained at 11am on Tuesday (June 11) by a patrol team from the MMEA during Ops Jaksa and Ops Tiris.
“Inspection revealed that both vessels from Singapore were suspected of committing offences for failing to report their arrival and anchoring without permission from the Malaysian Marine Department director.
“Checks revealed that all seven crew members from both vessels were Indonesian nationals, aged between 25 and 54, including the captain,” he said in a statement.
The captain and chief engineer have been taken to the Mersing Maritime jetty to be handed over to MMEA investigators for investigation under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, he added.
“The MMEA remains uncompromising in its stance against any activities that violate the law and is committed to continuing operations and patrols along the Malaysian Maritime Zone (ZMM) to curb illegal activities in the nation’s waters,” he said.
He urged anyone with information on suspected illegal activities to notify the authorities via MERS999 or the Johor maritime operations centre at 07-219 9404.
