BINTULU: A tugboat and two barges were detained on suspicion of operating with an expired document.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here stopped a tugboat and a barge approximately 2.5 nautical miles from the Sungai Kemena estuary at 7.45pm on Wednesday (Jan 19).
Bintulu MMEA director Capt (Maritime) Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the action was taken following complaints from the local maritime community.
“The local maritime community said they had continuously monitored the areas believed to be hotspots for tugboats and barges.
“They (tugboats and barges) often disrupt the exit/entry route in the area (near the Sungai Kemana estuary) posing a risk to small vessels.”
The MMEA’s KM Renggis detected a tugboat with a barge loading cargo onto another barge at the location at around 4.35pm on Wednesday.
MMEA personnel searched the tugboat and found that it had been using an expired authorisation document to conduct loading/unloading activities in the area.
The barge had been operating using the Domestic Shipping Licence that had also expired.
“A cargo of rocks, approximately 1,000 metric tonnes, was loaded onto the barge.
“All eight crew members along with the tugboat and barges were detained for further investigation,” added Capt Mohd Khairol.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
