KLANG: A Malaysian vessel, illegally manned by Indonesians, landed in hot water after it was caught flouting maritime and Immigration regulations by the Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Selangor Maritime director Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the vessel, which was operated by a skipper and two crew members, aged between 38 and 48 years old, was detained Tuesday (June 3) some 0.16 nautical miles south of Tanjung Harapan near here.
He added that the boat was apprehended during the MMEA’s enforcement patrols around Klang waters.
“An inspection found that the vessel had breached its licence condition under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 with various offences,’’ said Captain Abdul Muhaimin.
He added that the offences included the skipper’s name not being the one stipulated in the licence as well as failure to provide the 500GT Domestic Trade Voyages licence.
“Not only that, the cargo boat’s crew members’ names were not found in the licence and the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) was also inactive and finally, one of the crew members did not have a seaman's book,’’ Captain Abdul Muhaimin said.
He added the cargo boat had also flouted the Immigration Act 1959/63 as one of the foreigners did not possess valid identification documents.
The Malaysian vessel had also breached maritime regulations by hiring foreigners.
The vessel and the trio were taken to the Marine Police jetty at Pulau Indah to be handed over to the Selangor MMEA investigating officer for further action.
“Maritime Malaysia will not compromise on any individuals who carelessly or purposely breach the country’s laws in the Malaysian maritime zone,’’ said Captain Abdul Muhaimin.
He added any complaints, information on maritime crime, or emergency incidents at sea can be channelled to the authorities by contacting the emergency line 999 or the Selangor State Maritime Operations Centre at 03-3176 0627 for immediate response.
