Malaysian authorities detain two oil tankers near Pulau Jarak for conducting an illegal ship-to-ship fuel transfer of 750 tonnes without permits
IPOH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two oil tankers suspected of conducting an illegal ship-to-ship fuel transfer.
The vessels were intercepted near Pulau Jarak, Lumut, yesterday evening for suspected unauthorised bunkering activities.
MMEA Perak director Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob said checks revealed the tankers were operating without the required permit. He added that the vessels were also anchored in an area not authorised by the Director-General of the Malaysia Marine Department.
“An estimated 750 metric tonnes of Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) is believed to have been transferred between the tankers,” he said in a statement today.
Both vessels were ordered to anchor nearby for handover to investigation officers. Monitoring of the scene was assisted by the Lumut Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA).
The case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. The offences relate to unauthorised oil transfer and anchoring in prohibited areas.
