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

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. 

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