TANJUNG MANIS: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a cargo ship and its crew after the skipper failed to submit the vessel’s exit manifest and domestic shipping license.
MMEA Tanjung Manis director Gilbert Tinggak Numpang said the detention was made around 9.20am after a patrol boat detected a suspicious cargo ship, about 5.2 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Sirik last Saturday (Oct 14).
The vessel was operated by eight crew members including its skipper, consisting of seven foreigners and a local aged between 22 and 60.
“Preliminary investigation found that the ship was carrying 20 containers of rice believed to be for the local market.
“Further inspection also found that the skipper failed to produce the vessel’s exit manifest and domestic shipping license when requested.
“Both the vessel and its crew members were then escorted to the anchorage area near Tanjung Manis Terminal Jetty for further action,” he said.
Gilbert stated that the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and the Paddy and Rice Control (Licensing of Importers and Exporters) Regulations.
