MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here detained a tugboat and eight foreign crew members for failing to report the change of skipper near Kuala Bakam yesterday (May 7).
MMEA Miri director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the vessel was intercepted at 1.40 pm during patrols under ‘Op Permai’, ‘Op Naga Timur’ and ‘Op Tiris’.
The boat, manned by eight Indonesian men aged 26 and 57, was spotted at about 10.7 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Bakam.
“Further inspections revealed that the crew had failed to notify port authorities of change in the vessel’s skipper.
“The tugboat and its crew were escorted to MMEA Miri Complex Jetty and handed over to the investigating officer for further action,” he said.
Mohd Khairol said the case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
He added that the agency remains committed to conducting patrols and monitoring to curb any maritime law violations and criminal activities in the country’s waters.
Members of the public are urged to report complaints or provide information on emergencies at sea to MMEA Miri Operations Centre at 085-649111 or MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.
