MMEA detains two tugboats off Kuala Baram

by · Borneo Post Online
Handout photo shows one of the detained tugboats.

MIRI (Nov 7): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri separately detained two tugboats in Miri waters for violations of maritime regulations yesterday.

Miri Maritime Zone director Maritime Capt Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the vessels were detained around 3.5 nautical miles southwest of Kuala Baram at 10.30am and 11.05am respectively.

An MMEA patrol boat team conducting Op Permai and Op Tiris 3.0 boarded the respective boats for a check yesterday afternoon and found that the requirement of mandatory skipper change documentation was not complied with.

The vessels were operated by a total of six crew members consisting of one local, four Indonesian nationals, and an Indian national aged between 22 and 59 years, all of whom were found to have valid identification documents.

Crew members from one of the detained tugboats are seen in a handout photo.

“Both vessels and their crew members were escorted to the Pulau Melayu Vessel Detention Centre (PTV) Jetty for further action.

“The agency is investigating both cases under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for failing to submit a change of master document during the inspection,” Mohd Khairol said in a statement.

MMEA added it is committed to enforcing the law in the country’s waters and will not compromise with any party that fails to comply.

For any complaints or emergencies at sea, the public can contact the emergency line 999 or the Miri Maritime Zone Maritime Operations Centre on 085-649111, or the Sarawak operations centre on 082-432544 or 082-432016 for an immediate response.