MMEA identifies vessel that stole oil

PUTRAJAYA: Authorities have identified the vessel that received the marine oil siphoned off in the robbery of Singaporean tanker MT Joaquim, said Maritime Vice-Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agen­­cy (MMEA) deputy director-general (operations) said the authorities were still tracking the ship that made off with the 3,500 metric tonnes of marine oil.

“However, it is not in Malaysian waters,” he said, adding that authorities believed there was more than one vessel involved in the robbery and were working to track the other ships involved.

“For now, we cannot reveal the name of the ship as it could compromise investigations and efforts to track the vessel,” he told repor­ters after a meeting with his Indonesian and Singaporean counterparts here yesterday.

Ahmad Puzi said that based on the interview with the MT Joaquim crew, the pirates were from a neighbouring country.

He said even if they were able to track and nab them, the authorities would still need to test samples of the oil found on the ship to confirm whether it was from MT Joaquim.

“It will take time, perhaps several days,” he added.