KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a Singapore-registered tugboat for anchoring illegally in Johor waters.

       Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the vessel was spotted at 5.5 nautical miles (10km) east of Tanjung Penawar near here at around 8.45am on Thursday (Nov 4).

       “The ship captain failed to produce insurance and permission to anchor documents from the Marine Director,” said Nurul Hizam.

       “The ship was crewed by six Indonesian men aged between 20 and 50, and all of them possessed valid identification documents,” he added in a statement here on Friday (Nov 5).

       He added that the case is being investigated under Section 49B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for anchoring illegally and Section 361(6) of the same act for failure to produce maritime insurance.

       The offence is punishable with a fine of up to RM100,000, a jail term of not more than two years or both upon conviction.