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MMEA to receive offshore patrol vessel

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KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak Region is expected to receive another offshore patrol vessel (OPV) by mid-year to be stationed at its complex in Muara Tebas.

MMEA Sarawak director First Admiral (Maritime) Zin Azman Md Yunus said the ship will be mainly used by MMEA to monitor the waters surrounding Beting Patinggi Ali (Luconia Shoals) from any encroachment activities by foreign countries.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed the delivery of the ship as most of the expertise used to develop it comes from abroad.

“This ship will be bigger and able to stay out at sea for a month at a time. Its size will also make it capable to face the rough seas, especially during monsoon season,” he said at a press conference after the KM Semilang ship transfer ceremony here today (Jan 6).

He said the ship, named KM Tun Fatimah, measuring 83m x 13.7m, was the first OPV received by Sarawak after the two new generation patrol ships (NGPC), namely KM Sri Aman and KM Kota Kinabalu.

Meanwhile, Zin Azman said in 2020, MMEA Sarawak has detained a total of 97 foreign fishermen whose boats were found encroaching into state waters and seized about RM10 million worth of fishing vessels and equipment.

“We detained these foreign fishermen in an operation dubbed Ops Naga Timur which was launched in July 2019 which aims to combat the encroachment of foreign fishermen,” he said.

He said through Ops Kuda Laut, which was launched simultaneously on June 24 last year, MMEA recorded 11 arrests of foreign fishing boats and expelled 21 of them.

He also said that MMEA Sarawak is also involved in Ops Benteng Timur Laut to monitor the entry of illegal immigrants by sea into the state.

“So far, we have yet to record any encroachment of illegal immigrants or illegal foreign fishing vessels cases this year,” he added.

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