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 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

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