11-6-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Maritime authorities apprehended a Singaporean tugboat and its accompanying barge in Malaysian waters on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The vessels were intercepted approximately 6.4 kilometres west of Pulau Harimau, a small island situated off the coast of Mersing.
Maritime Commander Suhaizan Saadin, director of the Mersing zone MMEA, revealed that the patrol team responsible for the apprehension was conducting routine operations dubbed “Ops Jaksa” and “Ops Tiris” when they encountered the Singaporean vessels at around 11 a.m. on June 11th.
Upon inspection, it was discovered that the tugboat and barge had neglected to report their arrival in Malaysian waters and had anchored without obtaining the necessary permissions from the director of the Malaysian Marine Department, potential offences under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
“Our initial checks confirmed that all seven crew members aboard the two vessels were Indonesian nationals ranging from 25 to 54 years of age, including the captain,” Commander Saadin stated in the official release.
Authorities promptly took the captain and chief engineer into custody, transporting them to the Mersing Maritime jetty where they were handed over to MMEA investigators for further interrogation regarding the alleged violations.
Emphasizing the agency’s unwavering stance against unlawful maritime activities, Commander Saadin declared, “The MMEA remains uncompromising in its approach towards any actions that contravene the law. We are committed to sustaining operations and patrols throughout the Malaysian Maritime Zone to curb illegal practices in our nation’s waters.”
