MIRI: Malaysian maritime authorities have detained a local cargo vessel off the coast of northern Sarawak for alleged breaches of shipping safety regulations, reinforcing a stepped-up enforcement posture in the region’s territorial waters.
The vessel was intercepted at about 5.05pm on Friday (Feb 27) by officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri zone, approximately 1.8 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Lawas.
Miri zone director Maritime Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said initial inspections revealed the vessel had failed to produce a valid ship stability document, a mandatory safety requirement under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
Ship stability documentation is critical in ensuring a vessel’s seaworthiness and operational safety, particularly for cargo operations. Failure to comply constitutes a serious offence under Malaysian maritime law.
Further checks showed the vessel was manned by nine crew members aged between 21 and 56. The crew comprised one Malaysian national, four Indonesians and four Myanmar nationals.
Following the detection of the offence, a detention order was issued. The vessel’s master and one crew member were subsequently escorted ashore and handed over to maritime investigation officers for further action.
Maritim Malaysia said it would continue to intensify patrols and enforcement activities to safeguard national waters and ensure strict compliance with maritime laws and safety standards.
Members of the public with information on maritime crime or emergencies at sea are urged to contact the national emergency line at 999, the Miri Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 085-649111, or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 or 082-432016.
