Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Wednesday (1 January) detained a cargo ship for anchoring without permission about 26 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan at 1.40pm on 31 December.

Selangor MMEA director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the ship was detected on the Malaysian Maritime Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) in Klang and was detained by a MMEA patrol boat during an operation at Selangor waters. 

The vessel was believed to have been travelling from Singapore to India with 22 male crew members onboard including a captain. 

All crew members were Chinese nationals and aged between 28 and 63, who held valid identification documents. 

Further investigation found that the ship's captain failed to submit any authorisation document of to anchor in Malaysian waters.

The case is being investigated under Section 491B (1) (l) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which carries a fine of not more than MYR 100,000 or a jail term of not more than two years, or both, for anchoring without permission.

An arrest warrant on the vessel was issued and two crew members have been taken to the Selangor State Maritime Headquarters for further investigation.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 3 January, 2025

Maritime insurer Japan P&I Club on Monday (23 December) reported Istanbul-based maritime consulting firm Kalimbassieris Maritme A.S (KM) alerting vessels calling at any port in Turkey should ensure that accurate declarations are made regarding the quantity of bunker oil.

The update from KM highlighted an increasing trend of Turkish Customs recently increasing unexpected inspections onboard vessels calling Turkish ports. The authorities were checking the quantities of bunkers onboard, in comparison with the declared ones by the ships’ command at the arrival at the port.

An excerpt from the document is as follows:

Once a bunker discrepancy is established by Customs, for the vessel to be permitted to sail, Authorities will order the confiscation of the excess quantity of the bunkers by physical removal from the vessel’s tanks. Upon service of the confiscation order issued by judicial authorities to the Master and/or agents the physical removal of excess bunkers from vessel’s tanks will be undertaken by the Authorities. 

Considering the complexities of a physical removal of bunkers from the vessel in terms of delays/costs/operation, payment of excess bunkers’ value to the Treasury is the common and preferred method for both vessel’s interests and the authorities. The amount paid to the Treasury serves as ‘collateral’, so that the vessel may be allowed to sail by the Authorities. In most cases, the Authorities initially proceed with obtaining a confiscation order from the relevant criminal court, and upon submission of lawyers’ pleading concerning deposition of collateral instead of confiscation, payment from vessel’s interests is accepted. In practice, the Customs office issues a writ indicating the required fine/security amount to be paid to the designated account upon which payment can be made in order to release the vessel. 

Editor’s note: The 3-page document covering practical implications, legal aspects and considerations can be obtained in its entirety from the link here.

Related: Turkey: Spike in customs officials scrutinising bunker quantities on board
Related: Gard: Turkey – a case of undeclared bunker fuel

Source: Japan P&I Club
Photo credit: Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash
Published: 24 December 2024

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