The merchant ship that was detained by MMEA for docking in Sabah waters without permission.
KOTA KINABALU: A merchant ship with 19 crewmen from Vietnam was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for trespassing and docking at Sabah waters near Gaya Island, here early Wednesday morning.
MMEA chief enforcement officer Captain Azman Md Zin Yunus said the incident happened during a patrol operation when an MMEA vessel spotted the merchant ship docking in Sabah waters.
“We detained the ship on suspicion of anchoring in Sabah waters without obtaining any permission from the relevant authority.
“We have also detained 19 crewmen from Vietnam, aged 21 to 41, and the case will be investigated under Section 491 (B) (1) (1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952,” he said yesterday.
Azman said investigation revealed the ship was heading to Bintulu, Sarawak from India but anchored in Kota Kinabalu without informing the Maritime Department.
He said MMEA would continue to monitor intrusions or threats in Malaysian waters would remain committed to enforcing the laws of the country.