Tugboat, barge and crew detained for various offenses

BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a tugboat and a barge along with five crew members for committing various offenses yesterday (Aug 17).

MMEA Bintulu Zone director Capt Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said that the detention took place around 10.40am during ‘Op Permai’ and ‘Op Tiris’ patrols.

The vessels, operated by four locals and a Myanmar national, were spotted docked next to each other at about 1.7 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena Bintulu.

“Further inspections found that the crew, aged between 20 and 52, had committed offenses under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for failing to inform the change of skipper in writing and operating without a valid domestic shipping license (DSL).

“In addition, they also committed an offense under the Customs Act 1967 for failing to obtain permission to dock at the side of the vessel in the port area,” he said.

Handout photo shows the tugboat and barge docked next to each other at about 1.7 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena Bintulu.

“As a result, the crew members along with the vessels, were escorted to the MMEA Bintulu Vessel Detention Centre for further action,” he said.

In light of this, Suffian advised the maritime community to comply with the laws before carrying out any activities at sea and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

Complaints, information or emergencies at sea can be reported directly to the MMEA Bintulu Operations Centre at 086-314254 or MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.