MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a foreign tugboat with two Indonesian crews for an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Miri MMEA director, Captain Md Fauzi Othman, the tugboat crews failed to produce any supporting documents to allow them to anchor in Malaysian waters.
“The tugboat was detained at a distance of 1.8 nautical miles from the mouth of the Miri River by MMEA’s patrolling vessel around 12.15pm,” he said in a statement.
The tugboat crews were escorted to Miri Maritime Zone jetty for further action. The case is also being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
“They have undergone the Covid-19 screening test by the Ministry of Health as a precautionary measure upon their arrival at the jetty,” said Md Fauzi.
For any emergency or incident at sea, the public can contact the Miri Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 085-418204 / Sarawak Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 or MERS 999 which operates 24 hours.
