KUCHING: A tugboat and barge were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for failing to maintain clear vessel name markings, about 3.3 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Muara Tebas during a patrol operation yesterday (Apr 24).
MMEA Sarawak director Rear Admiral (M) Mohd Khairi Abd Aziz said the vessels were intercepted during ongoing operations under ‘Op Tiris 3.0’ and ‘Op Permai 01/2019.’
“Checks found the vessel’s name markings had come off, which is an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for negligence in maintaining a clearly visible name and causing confusion.
“The tugboat was crewed by eight individuals — three locals including the captain, and five foreign nationals aged between 20 and 55,” he said.
All those detained, along with the vessels, were escorted to the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex (Komtas) jetty and handed over to the investigating officer for further action.
MMEA reminded maritime operators to adhere to regulatory requirements and safety procedures to minimise the risk of incidents at sea.
Members of the public are urged to report any maritime offences or emergencies via the 999 emergency hotline or by contacting the Sarawak Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544.
