Foreign cargo vessel, nine crew detained in Miri waters

MIRI (Feb 9): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a foreign cargo vessel with nine crew members during Op Permai 01/19, Op Tiris 3.0 and Op Pelantar Merah 3/2023 operations in Miri waters last Sunday.

Miri Maritime Zone director Maritime Capt Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the vessel, along with its crew members – eight Bangladeshi nationals and one Chinese national – was detained around 11.30am some 3.8 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Baram by a patrol boat.

“Inspection found that the cargo vessel had committed several offences under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952, namely failure to produce vessel registration documents, an expired domestic shipping licence, and safety equipment in the form of a life raft that had exceeded its validity period,” he said.

He added that further inspection revealed the vessel was fully operated by foreign nationals.

The vessel and all crew members were escorted to an anchorage area in Miri waters at around 2pm for further investigation.

Mohd Khairol stressed Maritime Malaysia will continue to intensify patrols and enforcement operations to curb any violations of maritime law.

“Every vessel operating in Malaysian waters must comply with the prescribed regulations. Failure to do so not only endangers navigational safety but can also threaten the security of the nation’s waters,” he added.

Members of the public with information on suspicious activities at sea are urged to contact the Miri Maritime Zone Maritime Operations Centre at 085-649 111, the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432 544/ 082-432 016, or the emergency line 999 for immediate action.