Law Enforcement Action in Bintulu Waters: Tugboat and 8 Crew Members Detained

(Bintulu, 24th) The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Bintulu Maritime Zone recently conducted a law enforcement operation in Bintulu waters, during which a tugboat suspected of operating without being equipped with anchors was detained.

Captain Mohd Suffian Edin Abdullah, Director of the Bintulu Maritime Zone, stated that at about 4:25 pm last Friday, authorities discovered the said tugboat approximately 2.6 nautical miles northwest of the Kuala Kemena estuary. The detention was carried out during the "PERMAI 01/2019" and "TIRIS 4.0" operations.

He said that after inspection, the tugboat was found to be in violation of Section 300 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, as there were no anchors on board, whereas anchors are one of the essential safety equipment for vessels.

He pointed out that further inspection showed the tugboat had a total of 8 crew members, including 4 local citizens and 4 Indonesian citizens, one of whom was the captain.

The tugboat and all members of its crew were subsequently detained and escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Center, after which they were handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's investigating officers for further action under relevant legal provisions.

Mohd Suffian emphasized that adherence to maritime navigation safety regulations is the responsibility of every shipowner, vessel operator, and crew member, in order to reduce the risk of maritime accidents and ensure the safety of lives at sea.

"The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will not compromise with any vessels that violate safety regulations or national maritime laws. We will continue to strengthen enforcement to ensure that Malaysian waters remain safe, orderly, and compliant with established navigation standards."

He also urged maritime industry personnel to always abide by navigation regulations. If any maritime accidents, complaints, or emergencies are discovered, the public may call the 999 emergency hotline or contact the Bintulu Maritime Zone Operations Center (086-314254) and the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Center (082-432544) so that authorities can take prompt action.