Crime

Malaysia: MMEA conducts forced boarding on VLCCs caught in midst of STS oil transfer

Two ships involved were spotted by a MMEA patrol boat which suspected them for carrying out the STS activities at 32.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Sedili at 12.35pm.

Published

1 year ago

October 25, 2023

Admin

The Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Tuesday (24 October) said it arrested two Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) conducting a ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer without authorisation in the waters of East Johor.

Johor Maritime Director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the two ships involved were spotted by a MMEA patrol boat which suspected them for carrying out the STS activities at 32.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Sedili at 12.35pm.

Both ships refused to cooperate in allowing MMEA officers to go onboard, which led to authorities to perform a forced boarding by air.

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The ships, one registered in Panama and another in Honduras, were successfully detained at 6pm.

The Panama-registered VLCC had 26 crew members onboard, aged between 23 to 54 while the Honduras-registered VLCC was manned by 26 crew members, aged 21 to 51 years old.

The captains of the ships involved failed to present any authorisation documents for the activities being conducted.

The case will be investigated under Section 491B (1) (K) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, Section 491B (1) (L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and Section 186 of the Penal Code.

The captains of both ships involved are also being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing the duty of a public servant, which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years or a fine of up to MYR 10,000 or both if found guilty.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 25 October, 2023

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Legal

Greek shipping firms pay total USD 4.5 million over “M/T Kriti Ruby” oil pollution

Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises ordered to pay a criminal fine and community service payment.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 27, 2024

Admin

The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday (23 December) sentenced two Greek shipping companies for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), falsifying records and obstruction of justice.

The charges arose out of two United States port calls in which crew members of the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby presented false records to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conceal illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water from the vessel.

As part of the plea, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises were ordered to pay a criminal fine of $3,375,000 and a $1,125,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Both companies were also sentenced to serve five-year terms of probation during which they will be subject to environmental compliance plans with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.

The companies pleaded guilty and were sentenced for violating APPS in May and September 2022 during port calls by the Kriti Ruby to Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sewaren Terminal of the port of Newark, New Jersey, respectively. The companies also pleaded guilty and were sentenced for falsification of records and obstruction of justice in connection with the September 2022 port call.

The Kriti Ruby’s former chief engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis, was sentenced on 23 December to time served and a USD 5,000 fine after previously pleading guilty to charges related to the discharge of oily waste into the sea — including concealing the pollution by falsifying records — from the Kriti Ruby near the petroleum terminal in Sewaren, New Jersey. Second engineer Sonny Bosito was sentenced to time served for concealing pollution by falsifying records.

“Prioritising profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea and working to cover up that pollution is illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to enforcing the law and fighting against maritime pollution.”

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Philippe Variot
Published: 27 December 2024

Legal

China: 66 suspects caught over alleged stealing of marine fuel during bunkering ops

Group stolen more than 10,000 mt of fuel worth over RMB 53 million arrested in September, said police.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 26, 2024

Admin

Editor's note [31 December 2024]: Photo updated.

China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a six-month campaign in April 2024 to combat theft and smuggling on the Yangtze River's waterways, resolving resolved more than 300 criminal cases involving RMB 320 million (USD 43.8 million), reported China Daily.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday (24 December), Luo Ji, an official with the public security management department of the Ministry of Public Security, highlighted enforcement personnel solving a major case involving alleged marine fuel theft during the third quarter of 2024.

In September, authorities caught 66 suspects for allegedly stealing marine fuel during bunkering operations. Police said the group had stolen more than 10,000 metric tonnes of fuel worth over RMB 53 million (USD 7.3 million).

Mr Luo, meanwhile, also said police launched another campaign dubbed "Safe Yangtze River 2024" during February to combat against illegal fishing, sand mining, theft and smuggling along the Yangtze River.

The campaign solved more than 5,200 criminal cases and dismantled over 710 criminal organizations.

Source: China Daily
Photo credit: Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security
Published: 26 December 2024

Incident

Malaysia authorities seize tugboat and 50,000 litres of subsidised diesel in Port Klang

Investigations revealed the tugboat’s tank, containing diesel, had a connecting pipe which is believed to be pumping diesel to a storage tank; five men aged between 30 and 50 were also detained.

Published

4 weeks ago

December 17, 2024

Admin

Malaysia’s Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) seized over 50,000 litres of subsidised diesel and a tugboat in a raid in Port Klang on 12 December, according to local media reports on Friday (13 December).

The raid, conducted by KPDN Selangor enforcement officers with Selangor police, was conducted at a jetty in Port Klang at around 3am.

Investigations revealed the tugboat's tank, containing diesel, had a connecting pipe which is believed to be pumping diesel to a storage tank.

During a press conference, KPDN director-general of enforcement Datuk Azman Adam said the diesel was sourced from certain suppliers within Malaysian waters and then pumped into onshore storage tanks, which was then transferred to tanker lorries.

Five men, a Malaysian and four foreign nationals, aged between 30 and 50 were detained to assist in the investigation.

The total value of the seizure was estimated to be MYR 900,000 including the tugboat, diesel stored in the vessel and storage tank, connecting hoses and other equipment believed to have been used in the operation.

Azman added further investigations are ongoing under Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122).

Photo credit: Aaron Lee on Unsplash
Published: 17 December, 2024