TAWAU: A local cargo boat fully loaded with palm oil was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here for violating license conditions in Wallace Bay on Wednesday night.
A MMEA boat on patrol during Ops Pluto Timur, Ops Sejahtera, and Ops Tiris intercepted the vessel 2.1 nautical miles northwest of Sungai Tongkang estuary at 8.20 pm.
MMEA Tawau Zone director Kepten Maritim Ariffin Ghazali disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Three local crew members aged 40 to 66 including the skipper were onboard the vessel checked by MMEA personnel. One of them was not registered under the license, and the operator failed to report the crew change, Ariffin said.
Ariffin said the boat and crew were taken to the MMEA Tawau jetty for further action under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 (MSO 1952) for breaching valid license conditions, including non-compliance with crew registration.
Ariffin emphasised there would be no compromise for boat owners or operators who fail to comply with license requirements, adding that, the maritime community must always adhere to all licensing conditions to avoid strict action.
MMEA will continue strengthening enforcement operations, especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE), to curb illegal activities, he added.
Those with information on maritime crimes in Tawau waters can contact the MMEA Tawau Operations Centre at 089-752116 or the Emergency Hotline 999, Ariffin said. – James Leong
