The detained tugboat and its crew members.
BINTULU (April 30): A tugboat suspected of operating without a valid licence was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Maritime Zone about three nautical miles northwest off Kuala Kemena on Wednesday.
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Capt Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the vessel was intercepted at around 10.30am during Op Tiris 4.0 and Op Permai 01/2019, following a routine patrol in the waters.
He said inspection of the tugboat revealed that it was believed to have breached the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for operating without a valid domestic shipping licence (DSL).
“If found guilty, the owner of the vessel may face a fine of up to RM5,000,” he said in a statement.
The tugboat and its crew were later detained and escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre before being handed over to investigating officers for further action.
Muhammad Suffian said the arrest demonstrated MMEA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement in the country’s waters, particularly in tackling regulatory violations that could compromise maritime safety.
He also urged the maritime community to comply with all regulations and safety procedures when operating at sea to prevent accidents and legal consequences.
Members of the public with information on maritime offences or emergencies can contact the emergency line at 999, the Bintulu Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 086-314254, or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 for immediate response.
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