MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Maritim Malaysia, has detained a foreign cargo vessel off the coast of Miri for multiple violations of maritime regulations during a routine enforcement operation on Saturday.
The vessel was intercepted by Maritim Malaysia patrol boats from the Miri Maritime Zone at about 11.32am, approximately 3.8 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Baram, while officers were conducting Op Permai 01/19, Op Tiris 3.0 and Op Pelantar Merah 3/2023.
Miri Maritime Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said initial inspections revealed several offences under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
“These include the failure to produce valid vessel registration documents, an expired domestic shipping licence, as well as safety equipment violations involving an inflatable liferaft that had exceeded its service period,” he said in a statement.
Further checks found that the cargo vessel was manned by nine crew members, comprising eight Bangladeshi nationals and one Chinese national.
Following the detention, the vessel and all crew members were escorted to the designated anchorage area off Miri at about 2pm for further investigation.
Khairol Anuar stressed that Maritim Malaysia would continue to intensify patrols and enforcement operations to curb violations of maritime laws in Malaysian waters.
“All vessels operating in Malaysian waters are required to comply fully with established regulations. Non-compliance not only endangers navigational safety but also poses a potential threat to the security of national waters,” he said.
Members of the public with information on suspicious maritime activities are urged to contact the Miri Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 085-649111, the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 or 082-432016, or the emergency line 999 for immediate action.
