MMEA detains tugboat, crew members near Kuala Kemena

BINTULU (Sept 2): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a tugboat at approximately four nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena, Bintulu at 3.35pm yesterday.

Its Bintulu Maritime Zone director Capt Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the tugboat was detained during a routine patrol.

“During a patrol, the MMEA enforcement team inspected a white tugboat, which was loading logs onto a mother ship for export to India.

“Initial inspections revealed that the tugboat was operated by a crew of five, including the skipper. Four of the crew members were from Myanmar, while one was a local aged between 28 and 35,” he said in a statement.

He said the tugboat was suspected of violating the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 by failing to notify the ship registrar in writing about the change of the skipper’s name in the ship’s registration certificate, an offence punishable by a RM2,500 fine.

He added that the tugboat and the crew members were escorted to the Vessel Detention Centre of the Bintulu Maritime Zone before being handed over to MMEA investigators for further action.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Suffian reminded the maritime community to adhere to all legal regulations before undertaking any activities at sea.

He also encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities or accidents at sea by contacting the emergency hotline 999 or the Bintulu Maritime Zone Operations Centre (086-314 254)/ Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre (082-432544).