Legal

Malaysia: MMEA launches special ops to evict 100 illegal vessels in eastern Johor

Special ops will be conducted using helicopters to communicate with any illegal foreign vessels; targets will then have four hours to remove itself from Malaysian waters.

Published

5 years ago

March 26, 2021

Admin

The Johor state division of Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (25 March) reportedly launched a 10-day operation known as ‘Ops Jangka Haram’ to crack down on foreign vessels anchoring illegally in eastern Johor waters.

This comes following the MMEA announcement last week that eastern Johor waters has become a “hotspot” for foreign vessels to anchor illegally and conduct unlawful activities.

The Marine Department of Malaysia had also reported it had detected about 100 foreign vessels anchoring illegally in the Tompok Utara anchorage area, about 12 kilometres from Sedili Kecil beach last week.

At a press conference, MMEA Director-General Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the MMEA viewed the matter seriously as it involves cargo vessels, tankers, and passenger ships.

It is believed these vessels are experiencing a slowdown in business due to economic repercussions from Covid-19 and anchored illegally in the area as a way to minimise costs.

“For the ships to move from one point to another or even get close to the jetty, it will involve costs,” explained Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil.

“So, the easier way out is to just lower their anchor at any location. But if they anchored at an unauthorised place, they will disrupt the shipping route which could cause accidents.”

The MMEA said its clamp down will be conducted using helicopters to communicate with any illegal foreign vessels in the area and the vessel will then have four hours to remove itself from Malaysian waters.

If any vessel fails to comply, the Special Task and Rescue Force (PTK) team will be deployed to detain the vessel for further legal action.

Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil added that beginning Friday, 26 March, the usual compound for anchoring illegally will no longer be issued and regulations from the special operations will apply, which means the case could be brought directly to court if the vessel is not removed within the stipulated time frame.

“While these vessels anchoring illegally obstruct shipping lanes and could cause accidents, we are more concerned about them dumping oil and waste into Malaysian waters,” said Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil.

“We also suspect that they conduct unlawful activities such as drug and human trafficking which is a serious threat.”

MMEA said the operations will last for 10 days with a focus on the three identified hotspots: the Tompok Utara anchorage area, Eastern Bank (Permatang Timur) and the Ramunia Shoal.

A video of the commencement of the operations by Berita Harian is available below:

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

Photo credit: Berita Harian Online
Published: 26 March, 2021

Legal

Singapore: Company, director to be charged over flag registration services for UN-sanctioned ship

Investigations revealed that in 2022, the company provided flag registration services in respect of the “PETREL 8”, a vessel designated by UNSC in 2017 for transporting prohibited items from North Korea.

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2026

Admin

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday (30 July) said a company and its 49-year-old male director will be charged in court on 31 July for their alleged involvement in providing flag registration services to a vessel that contravened United Nationals regulations.

Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed that on 18 May 2022, the company provided flag registration services in respect of bulk carrier PETREL 8.

The vessel had been designated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 3 October 2017, pursuant to Resolutions UN S/RES/2317 (2017) and UN S/RES/2375 (2017), for transporting prohibited items from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

“At the material time, it is alleged that the company director had reasonable grounds to believe that PETREL 8 was a UNSC-designated vessel involved in transporting prohibited items from the DPRK when the flag registration services were provided,” SPF said in a statement.

The company will be charged with one count under Regulation 8D(d)(ii) of the United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010. The company director will be charged with one count under Regulation 8D(d)(ii) read with Regulation 13(a) of the same Regulations, for abetting the company to commit the offence.

The offence under the United Nations Act 2001 for contravening these Regulations carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to SGD 500,000 (USD 389,414) for an individual. In the case for a company, the offence carries a fine of up to SGD 1 million.

The United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010 under the United Nations Act 2001 gives effect to sanctions imposed by the UNSC on the DPRK to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

This includes prohibitions against the provision of services for vessels where there are reasonable grounds to believe the vessels are or were involved in activities that support the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the DPRK. Singapore takes its international obligations under UNSC Resolutions seriously and is committed to implementing them fully. The Police will not hesitate to take action against any individual or entity that breaches Singapore’s laws and regulations.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 July, 2026

Vessel Arrest

Singapore: Liberia-flagged bulk carrier “Pantazis L” placed under Sheriff’s arrest

Vessel was arrested at 9.27pm on 23 July and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.

Published

5 days ago

July 28, 2026

Admin

Singapore: Liberia-flagged bulk carrier “Pantazis L” placed under Sheriff’s arrest

Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Pantazis L was arrested in Singapore waters on Thursday (23 July).

The vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system.

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 9.27pm and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP. The ship is currently held at Eastern Special Purpose Anchorage A – Grid 5717D.

No details were provided in the list regarding the reason behind the arrest.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Owen Pereira
Published: 28 July, 2026

Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains tanker anchoring without permission in Selangor waters

Ship’s captain failed to produce any document authorising anchoring and is suspected of committing offence under Section 491B (1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

Published

5 days ago

July 28, 2026

Admin

Malaysia: MMEA detains tanker anchoring without permission in Selangor waters

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Friday (24 July) seized a tanker anchoring without permission in Selangor waters during an enforcement operation carried out on 23 July.

Selangor MMEA director Maritime Capt Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the tanker was seized at around 3.35 pm about 8.8 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan during a routine patrol.

“The investigation revealed that the tanker was operated by a 60-year-old Vietnamese captain along with 13 crew members, consisting of 12 Vietnamese and one Myanmar national aged between 20 and 51 years. All of them were found to have valid travel documents,” he said.

The ship’s captain failed to produce any document authorising anchoring and is suspected of committing offence under Section 491B (1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

A detention order was issued for the tanker, while the captain and the chief engineer were brought to the Selangor MMEA headquarters to assist in further investigations.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 28 July, 2026