TAWAU: A local cargo vessel carrying palm fruit was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) after it was found to have breached the conditions of its valid operating licence.
Tawau Maritime Zone Director Captain (Maritime) Ariffin Ghazali said it took place in the waters off Wallace Bay, Sebatik Island, on Wednesday night.
“The vessel was first detected 2.1 nautical miles northwest of the Sungai Tongkang estuary during Ops Pluto Timur, Ops Sejahtera and Ops Tiris around 8.20pm,” he said, Thursday.
Ariffin said preliminary checks revealed that the vessel was operated by three local men, aged between 40 and 66, serving as skipper and crew members.
A check on the documentation showed the skipper had failed to report a change of crew, as one of the individuals was not listed in the crew register stated on the vessel’s operating licence.
“The vessel and its skipper were brought to the Tawau Maritime Zone Jetty for investigation under the the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 (MSO 1952) for breaching the conditions of a valid licence,” he said.
The palm fruit was not seized as it had a valid licence certified by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
The case has been referred to the Marine Department for compound action, as all crew members must hold competency certificates to operate the vessel safely.
Ariffin reminded vessel owners and operators to adhere to the conditions of their valid licence, stressing that no compromise would be made regarding such violations.
“The maritime community must remain vigilant and ensure that all licensing conditions are met, failing which stern action will be taken against them,” he said.
He added that the MMEA will continue to strengthen enforcement within Malaysian maritime zones, particularly in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), to combat unlawful activities.
Members of the public with relevant information are urged to contact the Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-752116 or the emergency line 999 for immediate action.
