Tanker stopped while attempting illegal ship-to-ship fuel transfer
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) stops tanker in eastern Johor for illegal transfer.
A Belize-registered tanker has been stopped by the MMEA in eastern Johor for attempting an illegal ship-to-ship oil transfer to an arrested vessel..
Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the vessel was held at about 03:45 local time, approximately 6.7 nautical miles NE of Tanjung Balau in Kota Tinggi.
“Those on the tanker were attempting the (fuel) transfer with a ship which is under MMEA seizure pending a trial.
“The stop was made after we received information from the Fire and Rescue Department which received a report from a crew member of the detained ship that they were forced to allow an unidentified tanker to approach for an unknown purpose,” he said.
The admiral said the case is being investigated under Section 491B(I) and Section 491B(K) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
“The captains and chief engineers of both vessels have been taken to the Tanjung Sedili maritime zone office for further investigation,” he added.
