A tanker with 14 crew members was detained off the Selangor coast for allegedly anchoring without permission. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, Maritime Capt Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, reported that the vessel was intercepted during a routine patrol at approximately 3:35 PM on July 23, located about 8.8 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan.
The tanker was commanded by a 60-year-old Vietnamese captain, accompanied by 13 crew members, including 12 Vietnamese and one Myanmar national, aged between 20 and 51. All crew members possessed valid travel documents. However, the captain could not provide the necessary approval from the Marine Department Malaysia’s director-general to anchor in the area.
The investigation is being conducted under Section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for the unauthorized anchoring. A detention order has been issued for the tanker, and both the captain and chief engineer have been taken to the Selangor MMEA headquarters for questioning.
Capt Abdul Muhaimin emphasized the agency’s commitment to enforcing maritime laws and urged ship owners and operators to secure the required approvals from the Marine Department before anchoring in Malaysian waters to avoid legal repercussions.
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