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.

“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

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on Tuesday (20 May) said Singapore coordinated the rescue of 30 people from a capsized Indonesia-registered craft. 

At 0720hrs (Singapore Time), the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Singapore operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), was alerted of the incident received by Hong Kong-registered containership COSCO DEVELOPMENT.

FACIFIC MEMORY II had capsized about 14.6 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca, within the Singapore Maritime Search and Rescue Region.

MRCC Singapore coordinated the search and rescue operation and immediately issued navigational broadcasts for vessels in the vicinity to render assistance, as well as alerted Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency BASARNAS and MRCC Malaysia.

“MRCC Singapore directed the Liberia-registered bulk carrier ANDROS SPIRIT to rescue the persons in the water,” MPA said.

“The vessel arrived on scene shortly and successfully rescued all 30 persons from the water that were on board FACIFIC MEMORY II. No Singaporeans were involved in the incident.”

ANDROS SPIRIT will be disembarking the rescued persons at Batam.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 20 May, 2025

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Wednesday (23 April) said it detained a tanker for anchoring without permission at 5.9 nautical miles west of Pulau Pintu Gedong at about 3.15pm on 22 April. 

The ship was operated by a 36-year-old Thai captain with 16 crew members aged between 20 and 55 years, consisting of 13 Thais including two women, two Myanmar nationals and an Indonesian national.

The inspection found that the ship had committed an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 by not obtaining permission from the Director-General of the Malaysian Maritime Department and for failing to fly the Malaysian flag. 

The tanker’s Second Deck Officer and Second Engineer were taken to the Pulau Indah marine police jetty for further action.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 24 April, 2025