MELAKA: The Melaka and Negri Sembilan branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a teenage skipper and three crew members of a recreational boat operating at the beachfront of Pengkalan Balak in Alor Gajah here for violating the maritime law.
Melaka and Negri Sembilan MMEA director Maritime Captain Mohd Khairi Abd Aziz said the four were also found to have operated the boat that offers "banana" rides to beachgoers without the required safety precautions.
"The boat was intercepted and all crew were detained while my men were conducting routine check about one nautical mile from the shoreline on Tuesday(Sept 17)," he said.
Mohd Khairi said those detained were aged between 18 and 19 years old, while the skipper had no valid licence to operate the boat.
He said the boat was registered under the name of another individual who was supposed to be the skipper and not the teenager.
"Further inspection also showed that the boat had made multiple violations on the conditions of its licence.
"Investigations are currently being carried out under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and the boat has been towed to the Melaka and Negri Sembilan Maritime headquarters here to be impounded," he said.
Mohd Khairi said MMEA places the safety of passengers as a priority and actions have been previously taken against passenger boat operators for not abiding by the guidelines placed by the authorities to avoid any untoward incident.
He said earlier actions were executed at popular recreational beachfronts in both states, especially at Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan.
"Boat operators are advised not to be negligent regarding maritime safety, especially when offering rides to beachgoers,” he added.
