The oil tank ship detained by MMEA for docking in Sabah waters without permission.
KOTA KINABALU: An oil tank ship with 17 crew members was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for trespassing and docking at Sabah waters illegally. MMEA commander Mohamad Soharto Hj Mat Said said the agency received information that the vessel, which is registered from Panama, had been anchoring in Sabah waters for nearly a week without informing the Marine Department.
“We detained the ship on suspicion of anchoring in Sabah waters without obtaining any permission from the relevant authority. We have also detained 15 crewmen from Myanmar, two from Korea and the ship captain, aged 30 to 60, and the case will be investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952,” he said yesterday. Mohamad Soharto added that investigation revealed the ship entered Malaysian waters from China to load palm oil. He said MMEA would continue to monitor Malaysia waters for any unwanted intrusions or threats and would remain committed to enforcing the laws of the country.