BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here detained a tugboat and six crew members for allegedly committing multiple maritime offences during an enforcement operation off Bintulu waters.
Bintulu MMEA director Capt Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the vessel was intercepted at around 1.55pm on Sunday (July 5) around six nautical miles northwest of Kuala Kemena.
The team had stopped the tugboat for inspections during Ops Tiris 4.0, Ops Permai and Ops Pukat patrols.
“Further checks found that the vessel was operating without a valid Certificate of Malaysian Registry (CMR), failed to produce a Port Clearance Certificate and was not equipped with an anchor as required under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952.
“The vessel together with six crew comprising two Malaysians, including the skipper, three Indonesians and one Myanmar national, were escorted to MMEA Bintulu Vessel Detention Centre for further investigation and action,” Capt Muhammad Suffian said.
He added that the operation reflects the agency’s continued commitment to strengthening maritime law enforcement and ensuring compliance with regulations in Malaysian waters.
He also reminded the maritime community to adhere to all safety procedures and legal requirements while operating at sea.
Members of the public with information on maritime crimes or emergencies are urged to contact MMEA Bintulu Operations Centre at 086-314254 or MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.
