Tugboat detained near Tanjung Marou in Sarawak for breaching Shipping Ordinance
Handout photo shows the tugboat detained in Sarawak waters. – MMEA photo
KUCHING (April 30): A tugboat operating in Sarawak waters was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Monday night for breaching licensing conditions under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
According to Sarawak Maritime director Rear Admiral (M) Mohd Khairi Abd Aziz, the vessel was intercepted approximately 10 nautical miles north of Tanjung Marou during patrols under Ops Tiris 3.0 and Ops Permai 01/2019 around 10.20pm.
'Checks revealed that the vessel, manned by two local male crew members aged between 41 and 51, failed to display a valid Domestic Shipping Licence (DSL),' he said in a statement.
Further investigation found that the tugboat had not reported a change in skipper and was operating with an insufficient number of crew members.
The vessel and its crew members were escorted to the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex (Komtas) jetty and handed over to investigating officers for further action.
Khairi urged the maritime community to comply with all regulations and prioritise safety at sea to prevent unwanted incidents.
For emergencies or to report any suspicious maritime activities, the public may contact the MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544 or via the 24-hour hotline 999.
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