Malaysian authorities detain vessels for STS transfers

The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) of Kedah and Perlis detained a tanker and ferry for allegedly transferring oil through a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer in Langkawi waters last Friday.

PHOTO: The MMEA arrests a ferry and a tanker vessel for an alleged STS fuel transfer. MMEA

The vessels were detained while they were trying to connect to each other 0.9 nautical miles off the north of Pula Dayang Bunting in Langkawi, said MMEA Kedah and Perlis’ director First Admiral Romli Mustafa. The arrests were conducted during routine maritime boat patrols, he adds.

The captains of both vessels failed to provide any fuel transfer approval documents during the MMEA inspection.

A case has been started against the two vessels for alleged STS fuel transfers without authorty approval. If found guilty, they could face either fines of more than MYR 100,000 ($23,000), prison of up to two years, or both.

By Nithin Chandran

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