KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two boats ferrying tourists to the islands near the city for carrying more passengers than permitted.
MMEA Sabah and the Labuan Federal Territory director Admiral Datuk Che Engku Suhaimi Che Engku Daik said the two boats involved were intercepted close to the Jesselton Jetty during their preventive search and rescue operations in waters here at 4.30pm on Friday (Jan 5).
"The two boats involved were detained by a maritime patrol boat during a series of Preventive Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations around the waters of this district.
He said the first boat was operated by a local man and carried more than the permitted number of passengers, while the second boat operated without a proper crew and necessary safety equipment.
The boats and the skipper were escorted into the Sepanggar MMEA jetty for further action, he said in a statement here Saturday (Jan 6).
"All passenger boat operators should always prioritise safety when taking passengers to the islands around the state's waters to prevent unwanted incidents.
"We will continue to implement this Preventive SAR Operation so that the level of awareness regarding safety aspects at sea among passenger boat operators and the maritime community becomes a priority and is taken seriously," he added.
