KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak detained a tugboat and a barge after its crew failed to produce a domestic shipping licence (DSL) during inspection yesterday (June 5).
Its director First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus said the detention was made around 11.55 am, about 11.2 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Po.
The vessels were detained for inspection by the agency’s boat during a routine patrol at sea.
“The tugboat was operated by nine foreign crewmen including the skipper, four Indonesians and five Indians.
“Though the crew, aged between 26 and 49, were found to have valid identification documents, they failed to produce a valid DSL and it is an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952,” he said.
The crew together with the tugboat and barge, were escorted to the MMEA Tun Abang Salahuddin complex jetty in Muara Tebas for further investigation.
Zin Azman encouraged the maritime community to continue channelling information and complaints on suspicious activities, maritime crime or emergencies at sea to the MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544/010-7728909