Malaysia: MMEA arrests oil tanker and LAG carrier over alleged anchoring violations

The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency on Tuesday (5 October) said it has arrested an oil tanker and a liquid ammonia gas (LAG) carrier at East Johor over alleged anchoring violations on Monday morning.

The Hong Kong-registered vessel was spotted at 9.3 eastern nautical miles of Tanjung Jompat around 10:45 am and was manned by 17 Chinese and Myanmar individuals aged between 24-51 years of age. 

A separate Thailand-registered ship was arrested around 11:00 am positioning at 20.1 nautical miles north-eastern Tanjung Siang and was operated by 16 Thai crew aged between 26-57 years of age.

Johor State Maritime Director, First Admiral Nurul Hizam bin Zakaria, said the two vessels were arrested after both Captains failed to present required documents to the maritime authorities.

Individuals found guilty under Section 491B (1)(l) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 may be fined not exceeding RM 100,000 or face an imprisonment term of not more than two years, or both.

A series of earlier MMEA detentions in 2021 have been reported by bunkering publication Manifold Times (below):

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Photo credit: MMEA
Published: 6 October, 2021