BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a tugboat and a barge for failing to produce a written proof on the change of skipper on Monday (Jan 22).
The six crew members on board the vessels were also detained.
MMEA Bintulu Zone director Captain Mohd Iszuadi Mohamad Hassan said a patrol vessel detected a tugboat pulling a barge laden with stones at about 2.9 nautical miles west of Kuala Kemena around 4 pm.
The team inspected the tugboat and barge, and found a total of six crew members comprising locals and Indians operating the vessels.
“Nevertheless, all the crew members aged between 21 and 56, have complete and valid documents to work on the vessels.
“Further inspections found that the crew committed an offence for failing to informing in the ship’s registrar in writing regarding the name change of the skipper,” he said.
Both the crew and vessels were then escorted to the MMEA Bintulu Vessel Detention Centre for further action.
Mohd Iszuadi said the case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
In light of this, the maritime community is advised to comply with the laws and regulations before conducting any activity at sea.
Should the public have any information on emergency incidents at sea, they can channel them to MMEA Bintulu Zone Operations Centre at 086-314254 and MMEA Sarawak Operations Centre at 082-432544.
