BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained five vessels for various offences in Bintulu waters last week.
MMEA Bintulu director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the vessels comprised three barges, a tugboat and a cargo ship.
The barges which were anchored and docked at Bintulu Port and the tugboat anchored some two nautical miles from Kemena estuary river were detained on July 28.
Meanwhile, the cargo ship was detained about four nautical miles from Tanjung Kidurong on July 29.
“All of the vessels were suspected of committing various offences such as failing to produce an inland shipping licence, not updating the Ship’s Registration Certificate with a written notice of the master’s name change, and operating without sufficient members as part of the licence conditions.
“The cases are being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which provides for a compound, upon conviction,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Khairol reminded the maritime community to comply with all the legal regulations before carrying out any activity at sea.
The community is also encouraged to channel information and complaints on suspicious activity or emergency at sea to the MMEA Bintulu Operations Centre at 086-314 254 and MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.
