BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Zone detained a tugboat for allegedly employing a foreign crew member without proper documents.
A routine patrol off Bintulu waters yesterday intercepted the vessel at 1.50 pm about 4.6 nautical miles northwest of Kuala Sungai Kemena during operations Op Tiris 3.0 and Op Permai 01/2019.
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Captain Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said checks found two crew members on board – a local skipper and an Indonesian man aged between 23 and 42.
“The vessel is suspected of committing an offence under Section 474(2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for breaching licence conditions by using foreign crew members to catch fish.
“If convicted, the offender could face a fine or be issued with a compound,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Both the tugboat and its crew were escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre before being handed over to MMEA investigating officers for further action.
The agency also reminded all maritime communities to comply with laws and safety procedures at sea to prevent unwanted incidents.
Members of the public with information, complaints or reports of maritime emergencies may contact the 999 emergency line, the Bintulu Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 086-314254, or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 for immediate response.
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Captain Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah said checks found two crew members on board – a local skipper and an Indonesian man aged between 23 and 42.
“The vessel is suspected of committing an offence under Section 474(2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for breaching licence conditions by using foreign crew members to catch fish.
“If convicted, the offender could face a fine or be issued with a compound,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Both the tugboat and its crew were escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre before being handed over to MMEA investigating officers for further action.
The agency also reminded all maritime communities to comply with laws and safety procedures at sea to prevent unwanted incidents.
Members of the public with information, complaints or reports of maritime emergencies may contact the 999 emergency line, the Bintulu Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 086-314254, or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 for immediate response.