BINTULU: A passenger boat and two crew members were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), off Bintulu, after it was found operating without a legally recognised captain.
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Captain Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said the vessel was intercepted 1.5 nautical miles northwest of the Kemena River estuary during patrols under ‘Op Permai’ and ‘Op Tiris 3.0’.
“Initial checks found the boat was manned by two local crew members, aged 22 and 50.
“The crew members are suspected of violating Section 477(2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which requires operators to report any change of captain to port authorities. Offenders may face fines or compound penalties,” he said.
The boat and its crew were detained and brought to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Detention Centre before being handed over to investigators for further action.
MMEA reminded all maritime communities to comply with regulations and safety procedures to reduce risks at sea.
Incidents or emergencies can be reported via emergency line 999, or to the Maritime Operations Centres in Bintulu (086-314 254) and Sarawak (082-432544).
