SELANGOR (MALAYSIA): Malaysian maritime authorities have detained a tanker for allegedly anchoring without the required authorization in the waters off Selangor during a routine enforcement operation conducted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
According to the MMEA, the vessel was intercepted approximately 8.8 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan while maritime enforcement officers were carrying out a scheduled patrol in the area. Preliminary investigations found that the tanker was under the command of a 60-year-old Vietnamese captain and carried a crew of 13 members, including 12 Vietnamese nationals and one Myanmar national aged between 20 and 51 years. Authorities confirmed that all crew members possessed valid travel documents.
Officials stated that the vessel’s captain was unable to produce a valid anchoring permit issued by the Malaysian Marine Department. As a result, the tanker is suspected of violating provisions of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which regulates anchoring activities within Malaysian territorial waters.
Following the inspection, enforcement authorities issued a detention order for the vessel. The captain and the ship’s chief engineer have been taken in for questioning and are cooperating with investigators as the inquiry continues.
The MMEA reaffirmed its commitment to strict enforcement of Malaysia’s maritime laws, emphasizing that violations involving unauthorized anchoring and other regulatory breaches will be dealt with firmly to safeguard navigational safety, maritime security, and orderly operations within the country’s waters.
The agency also urged shipowners, operators, and vessel masters to obtain the necessary approvals from the Malaysian Marine Department before anchoring in Malaysian waters, warning that failure to comply with statutory requirements could result in enforcement action and legal penalties.
