Oil Tanker Pollution - Ship Apprehended

Maritime Enforceement Agency catches tanker cleaning tanks in coastal waters

The tanker registered in Batam, Indonesia, was discovered disposing solid fuel waste illegally in the waters of Pengerang

Southern Region Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in a statement said the MT Fortune tanker was located at night 3.4 nautical mile south of Tanjung Stapa .

  Its enforcement chief Maritime First Admiral Adon Shalan said a patrol team boarded the tanker and found 11 Indonesian crewmen cleaning the tank.

  "We also found between 300 and 400 gunny sacks of soild fuel waste.

The captain also failed to furnish any documents to permit scheduled removal of solid fuel waste.

  "We believe that operation was carried out at night to elude authority," said Adon.

  The case is being investigated for anchoring without permit and unannounced arrival in local waters.

  Adon said the case had also been referred to the Johor Department of Environmental to be investigated under Environmental Quality Act and Regulations 2005.