BINTULU: Malaysian maritime authorities have detained a tugboat carrying six foreign crew members after it was allegedly found operating without flying the Malaysian flag within Malaysian port waters off Bintulu.
The vessel was intercepted at about 10.10am on Saturday during a patrol under Op Tiris 4.0 and Op Permai 01/2019, approximately 2.4 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Captain Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the tugboat was suspected of breaching provisions of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which requires vessels within Malaysian port limits to display the national flag between sunrise and sunset.
“The vessel is suspected of committing an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance for failing to fly the Malaysian flag while within a Malaysian port during the prescribed hours,” he said in a statement.
An inspection found six crew members on board, comprising five Indonesian nationals, including the vessel’s master, and one Indian national.
The vessel and its crew were detained and escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre for further investigation.
Captain Muhammad Suffian said compliance with flag display requirements was an important aspect of maritime safety and enforcement, as it enabled authorities to identify vessels operating within Malaysian waters.
The MMEA said it would continue conducting patrols and enforcement operations across Sarawak waters to ensure compliance with maritime laws and regulations.
The case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
