The Malacca & Negeri Sembilan state division of Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (31 December) said it detained a Malta-registered tanker MT Tahiti (IMO No. 9600877) for anchoring illegally in southwestern Malacca waters on Wednesday afternoon.
“The vessel was found 4.9 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Upeh after a tipoff from the Malacca Marine Department’s patrol team,” said Maritime Commander Azman bin Samsudin, Deputy Director (Operations), MMEA Malacca & Negeri Sembilan.
“MT Tahiti was detained around 1.15 pm after failing to produce any anchoring permit from the Malaysia Marine Department.”
The vessel had 26 crew onboard aged between 19 to 56 years old from the Hellenic Republic, Romania, the Philippines and Russia.
The case will be investigated under Section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for anchoring without a permit.
MMEA said it will continue to increase its efforts to increase safety in Malaysian waters and urges the public to report any suspicious activity in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to its 24-hour hotline 06-3876730.
A series of MMEA detentions was reported by Manifold Times (below) in 2020:
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Photo credit: Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 4 January, 2020
Current contracts unable to address practical issues between shipowners, charterers and bunker suppliers.
MMEA estimates the value of the vessels and the fuel onboard to be worth MYR 7.5 million; it reports a total of eight Thai and 25 Cambodian crew onboard the vessels.
‘I had given instructions to the finance department to prepare the accounts without showing the losses and that I would be responsible if anything went wrong,’ states HLT founder.
The second arrest in 24 hours by MMEA in Penang was at 8.5 nautical miles north of Teluk Bahang; vessel had 21 crew onboard.
South Korea to discuss details with United States and other related nations, says spokesman.
Maritime authorities of Penang have always been serious about enforcing the law, says spokesman.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and MPA is working closely with other agencies to monitor the situation, both globally and in Singapore, the port authority tells Manifold Times.
Caroline Yang, President of SSA, addresses issues earlier raised by players; including PMC No. 04, the seven-day restriction, contactless bunkering, sampling point, hose connection, and more.
IBIA Asia, ABIS, sources from Singapore’s bunkering and surveying companies, and an industry veteran share with Manifold Times the issues expected from MPA’s latest Covid-19 measures.
The top three positive movers in the 2020 bunker supplier list are Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+13); Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd (+12); and SK Energy International (+8), according to MPA list.
‘We will operate in the Singapore bunkering market from the Tokyo, with support from local staff at Sumitomo Corporation Singapore,’ source tells Manifold Times.
Changes include abolishing advance declaration of bunkers as dangerous cargo, reducing pilotage fees on vessels receiving bunkers, and a ‘whitelist’ system for bunker tankers.
