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Malaysia: MMEA launches special ops to evict 100 illegal vessels in eastern Johor

Special ops will be conducted using helicopters to communicate with any illegal foreign vessels; targets will then have four hours to remove itself from Malaysian waters.
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The Johor state division of Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (25 March) reportedly launched a 10-day operation known as ‘Ops Jangka Haram’ to crack down on foreign vessels anchoring illegally in eastern Johor waters.

This comes following the MMEA announcement last week that eastern Johor waters has become a “hotspot” for foreign vessels to anchor illegally and conduct unlawful activities. 

The Marine Department of Malaysia had also reported it had detected about 100 foreign vessels anchoring illegally in the Tompok Utara anchorage area, about 12 kilometres from Sedili Kecil beach last week.

At a press conference, MMEA Director-General Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the MMEA viewed the matter seriously as it involves cargo vessels, tankers, and passenger ships.

It is believed these vessels are experiencing a slowdown in business due to economic repercussions from Covid-19 and anchored illegally in the area as a way to minimise costs.

“For the ships to move from one point to another or even get close to the jetty, it will involve costs,” explained Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil.

“So, the easier way out is to just lower their anchor at any location. But if they anchored at an unauthorised place, they will disrupt the shipping route which could cause accidents.”

The MMEA said its clamp down will be conducted using helicopters to communicate with any illegal foreign vessels in the area and the vessel will then have four hours to remove itself from Malaysian waters.

If any vessel fails to comply, the Special Task and Rescue Force (PTK) team will be deployed to detain the vessel for further legal action.

Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil added that beginning Friday, 26 March, the usual compound for anchoring illegally will no longer be issued and regulations from the special operations will apply, which means the case could be brought directly to court if the vessel is not removed within the stipulated time frame.

“While these vessels anchoring illegally obstruct shipping lanes and could cause accidents, we are more concerned about them dumping oil and waste into Malaysian waters,” said Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil.

“We also suspect that they conduct unlawful activities such as drug and human trafficking which is a serious threat.”

MMEA said the operations will last for 10 days with a focus on the three identified hotspots: the Tompok Utara anchorage area, Eastern Bank (Permatang Timur) and the Ramunia Shoal.

A video of the commencement of the operations by Berita Harian is available below:

A series of earlier MMEA detentions have been reported by Manifold Times (below):

Related: MMEA reports Johor eastern waters to be ‘hotspot’ for vessels to anchor illegally
Related: MMEA detains Liberian registered tanker for allegedly anchoring illegally in Perak
Related: MMEA detains Panama registered tanker for allegedly anchoring illegally in Selangor
Related: MMEA detains Thailand registered tanker for allegedly anchoring illegally in Selangor
Related: MMEA detains Singapore flagged tanker suspected of illegal oil transfers in Selangor
Related: MMEA detains Panama flagged tanker for anchoring illegally in eastern Johor
Related: Malaysia: MMEA detains loaded oil tanker for allegedly anchoring illegally in Perak
Related: MMEA detains tanker ‘MT Tahiti’ in Malacca waters for anchoring without a permit
Related: MMEA detains St Kitts & Nevis registered tanker for anchoring illegally in eastern Johor
Related: MMEA detains Malaysia & Mongolia registered tankers for anchoring illegally in Johor
Related: Malaysia: MMEA detains tanker for anchoring without a permit in southeastern Johor

Photo credit: Berita Harian Online
Published: 26 March, 2021

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

Initial checks revealed that insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all six crew members on board failed to provide valid identification documents.

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May 23, 2025

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (22 May) said it has detained a suspicious tanker at about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary on 20 May. 

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi said an MMEA asset had detained the tanker while patrolling the Malaysia-Vietnam border. 

The vessel was detected after displaying several suspicious signs at around 1 pm before it was successfully detained 20 minutes later.

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

“Initial checks revealed the vessel has six crew members, including a captain and all are believed to be Thai citizens aged between 38 and 70,” he said.

It was also found that the insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all the crews on board the vessel failed to provide valid identification documents during the check. 

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 23 May, 2025

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Winding up

Singapore: Creditors’ meeting scheduled for Quetzal Offshore Pte Ltd

Meeting for Quetzal Offshore will be held through electronic means on 27 May at 3pm to confirm the appointment of liquidators, according to Government Gazette notice.
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May 21, 2025

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The creditors’ meeting of Quetzal Offshore Pte Ltd Pte Ltd, has been scheduled to take place on 27 May, states a Monday (19 May) notice posted on the Government Gazette. 

The meeting for creditors of the company will be held by way of electronic means at 3pm. 

The purposes of the meeting are:

  • receiving a statement of the Company’s affairs together with a list of creditors and the estimated amounts of their claims;
  • confirming the appointment of Mr. Chan Kwong Shing, Adrian, Ms. Toh Ai Ling and Ms. Tan Yen Chiaw all care of KPMG Services Pte. Ltd. of 12 Marina View, #15-01 Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961, as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company pursuant to Section 167(1) of the Act for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Company at such remuneration based on time costs;
  • resolving that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit;
  • forming a Committee of Inspection of not more than 5 members, if thought fit; 
  • and any other business

According to SGP Business website, a business platform for businesses and individuals, the company’s main business was offering ship management services. 

 

Photo credit: Benjamin-child
Published: 21 May, 2025

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Sanctions

UK cracks down on Russian shadow fleet with fresh sanctions

Latest sanctions target 18 more ships in the ‘shadow fleet’ carrying Russians oil; John Michael Ormerod, a British national, also faced sanction for procuring ships for Russia’s shadow fleet.

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3 days ago

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May 21, 2025

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The UK on Tuesday (20 May) announced a raft of 100 sanctions targeting Russian military, energy, financial sectors and those conducting Putin’s information war against Ukraine.

The latest sanctions target 18 more ships in the ‘shadow fleet’ carrying Russians oil, along with the fleet’s enablers. The Prime Minister announced 110 shadow fleet related sanctions ahead of his visit to Kyiv earlier this month.  

John Michael Ormerod, a British national, also faced sanction for procuring ships for Russia’s shadow fleet. Two Russian captains of shadow fleet tankers were also named in the list of individuals who were sanctioned. 

“This action imposes a personal cost on those who are supporting Russia’s trade in oil and is another step in the Foreign Secretary’s personal mission to constrain the Kremlin and a crucial part of the Plan for Change to ensure a secure Britain,” the government said in a statement. 

The UK is also working with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap that limits the price that Russia can charge for its oil if transported using G7 services like insurance and shipping. 

“We are reviewing the $60 crude price level, with a view to lowering the cap closer to the cost of production and hitting Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues,” it added.

The following is the list of sanctioned 18 ships:

  • TORONTO (IMO 8808525)  
  • NEXT (IMO 9286023) 
  • SPRING FORTUNE (IMO 9386536)  
  • RAGNAR (IMO 9384095)  
  • FURIA (IMO 9257802) 
  • CORTEX (IMO 9291250)  
  • CETUS (IMO 9418482)  
  • MISSONI (IMO 9296810) 
  • OTLA (IMO 9299719)  
  • MAIN (IMO 9387255) 
  • NAUTILUS (IMO 9434890) 
  • ARABELA (IMO 9253313)  
  • RICCA (IMO 9292577)  
  • TEAM (IMO 9292589) 
  • LEOPARD (IMO 9284594) 
  • PIERRE (IMO 9266877) 
  • JAMES II (IMO 9253909) 
  • LIETO (9389679) 

 

Photo credit: balesstudio on Unsplash
Published: 21 May, 2025

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