Tugboat, barge seized in joint operation

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Photo shows the detained tugboat and barge.

MIRI: A joint operation involving Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Miri Port Authority resulted in the detention of a tugboat and a barge it was towing last Friday.

MMEA Miri zone director Captain Md Fauzi Othman said the vessels were detained around 5.30pm about nine nautical miles off the mouth of Miri River.

“MMEA and Miri Port Authority noticed the tugboat, towing a barge laden with stacks of plywood in the midst of unloading them into a ship while conducting a joint patrol in Miri waters.

“Our inspection found the boat had failed to produce a Port Clearance Pass, which is an offence under the Customs Act 1967,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said all 10 crew members including eight Indonesians aged 23 to 56 years on board were detained.

“The tugboat and the barge were brought to Miri anchorage area for further investigation, he added.