By Aida Aziz
Photo MPM Perak
LUMUT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritime Malaysia) in the state of Perak has detained a cargo ship that failed to report its arrival in the waters of Pulau Pangkor to the Malaysian Maritime Department.
The cargo ship was detained at a position 14.2 nautical miles northwest of the island, around 3:01 pm last Tuesday.
The Director of Maritime in the state of Perak, Maritime Captain Mohd Hambali Ya’akup, said that the 190-meter-long cargo ship registered in Hong Kong was detected last Friday while navigating through the radar coverage of the Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA) here.
He added that despite instructions to drop anchor and disperse, the ship refused to do so.
“The Maritime Malaysia patrol boat conducting Ops Sayong, Ops Pintas, Ops Tanjung, and Ops Tiris was directed to the position of the cargo ship for inspection.
“The Inspacion found that the cargo ship, operated by a captain assisted by 21 crew members consisting of Chinese and Myanmar nationals, committed an offense by failing to report its arrival to the Director of Maritime, Malaysian Maritime Department.
“The detention was made under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952, Section 449, where, if found guilty, the offender can be fined not exceeding RM5,000.
“And read together with Regulation 10(1) of the Federal Ports Regulations 1953 (Report of arrival), which can incur a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both,” he said on Thursday.
Therefore, Mohd Hambali stated that all crew members along with the ship were detained for investigation and further action.
He emphasized that Maritime Malaysia urges the maritime community to always comply with the established laws to avoid legal action.
For any reports, complaints, and emergencies at sea, the public can contact the Perak Maritime Operations Center at 05-6838737 or MERS 999 for immediate response.
