Two Tankers and Crew Detained Following Illegal Oil Transfer in Malaysia

Two vessels have been seized by the Southern Region of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The ships are believed by authorities to have been attempting to transfer 130,000 liters of illegal fuel in the waters near Pengerang. The Malaysian government has been trying to crack down on this issue for some time.

Officials said that during operations carried out in early morning hours, an MMEA vessel detected the two ships coinciding suspiciously. Upon inspection, five members of the MT Urban Lima crew were transferring 130,000 liters of petrol to the MT 18 Heaven. During the inspection, almost 57,000 liters were transferred. Each captain failed to provide any documentation that allows oil transfer from ship to ship without permission.

The MT Urban Lima is registered in Sierra Leone; the MT 18 Heaven is registered in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Both are being detained for further questioning and investigation. 22 crewmen have also been taken into custody, mainly Indonesians.

Samples of the gasoline were taken to the Department of Chemistry in Johor to confirm the oil’s status. If convicted, the ship-owners can be fined and/or imprisoned for up to 2 years.

Photo source: http://www.mmea.gov.my