LUMUT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a foreign oil tanker, 11.5 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Pangkor on suspicion of anchoring in Malaysian waters without permission.
Perak MMEA director Maritime Captain Mohd Hambali Ya'akup said the agency was alerted to the presence of the suspicious vessel by the Malaysian Maritime Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA) at about 1.30pm Thursday (Jan 4).
Following that, he said, a patrol boat was mobilised to the location and found the Vietnam-registered oil tanker there.
"The ship, believed to be on its way to Bangladesh, was manned by 19 crew members, including the 'master'. All were Vietnamese nationals aged between 22 and 56, and they were detained for further investigation,” he said in a statement today (Jan 6).
The ship was detained under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) Act 1952 on suspicion of anchoring without permission from the Malaysian Marine Department.
He urged the public with information or complaints about maritime crime to contact the Perak Maritime operations centre at 05-683 8737 or MERS 999.
