Repeat Offense: Passenger Vessel Seized Again for Violating Shipping Regulations

(Miri, 25th) — A passenger vessel has been seized by enforcement authorities once again for repeating the same violation.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Miri Maritime Enforcement District, conducted patrols around 12:20pm yesterday, about 0.4 nautical miles northwest off the Miri river mouth, when they seized a passenger vessel suspected of violating the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1953 (MSO 1953).

Miri Maritime Enforcement District Director Mohamad Khairul Anuar noted that the vessel had been convicted for the same offense last year, and was intercepted again during the joint operations “OP PERMAI 01/2019”, “OP TIRIS 3.0”, and “OP PELANTAR MERAH 3/2023”.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the vessel operated without the required number of crew and carried unapproved crew members, thereby violating the terms set out in its license," he said.

The 55-year-old captain and 43-year-old crew member, along with the vessel involved, have been brought to the Miri vessel detention center and handed over to investigators for further investigation.

The vessel and related individuals will be investigated under Section 12 of the 1953 Merchant Shipping Ordinance for operating a vessel without meeting the minimum manning requirements set by the Port Officer. If found guilty, the owner and captain can be fined up to RM1,000 or face a compound fine of RM500 under Section 484 of the same ordinance.

The authorities urge the public to report any maritime criminal activity, complaints, or maritime emergencies by calling the emergency hotline 999, the Miri Maritime Enforcement District Operations Center at 085-649111, or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Center at 082-432544 / 082-432016, so that the authorities can respond swiftly.