JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone has detained two vessels for illegally anchoring in the eastern waters Johor yesterday.
The first vessel from Hong Kong was detained at 1pm at 23.9 nautical miles from Tanjung Siang near Kota Tinggi when the crew failed to show permission to anchor in Malaysian waters after patrol officers sought their paperwork.
"The 19 crew members including its Filipino and Chinese captain had no valid documents. It was also carrying no cargo," said the agency'sTanjung Sedili Maritime Zone acting director Commander Mohd Najib Sam.
The second vessel was a tanker detained at 31 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Gemok at 4.10pm because it failed to present permission to anchor in Malaysian waters.
The Panama-registered tanker was manned by a crew of 25 men, including its captains.The crew consisted of Ukrainians, Pakistanis, Iranians, Georgians, Indians, Filipinos and Russians, aged between 27 and 53 years of age. All had valid documents on them.
Both cases are being investigated under Section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for anchoring without the permission or approval of the Malaysian Director of Maritime Affairs which provides for a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or jail time not exceeding two years or both.
For 2021 under their illegal anchoring ops the state MMEA made 98 busts involving compounds worth RM2,981,000.
Last year the agency made 74 busts involving compounds worth RM1,843,000.
