This is a test case for Malaysia, says society
The Star 1 Jun 10;
JOHOR BARU: Contingency plans to contain the oil spill caused by the collision between two vessels at the Singapore Strait recently have failed as the spillage has reached the country’s shores, said Malaysian Nature Society Johor chairman Assoc Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed.
“This is a test for us as it involves 2,000 tonnes of crude oil. The relevant authorities need to study their containment methods and improve on them before something more serious occurs,” he said.
While the impact of the oil spill has yet to be known, many fishermen are affected and their livelihoods are at stake, he said.
He added that the local authorities should protect the interest of the people living around the area.
Dr Maketab also said the Tanjung Pengerang area was notorious for illegal oil dumping activities.
If left unresolved, water pollution due to oil spills and illegal oil dumping would have an adverse effect on marine life and fishermen, he said.
Two ships held for illegal oil transfer
The Star 1 Jun 10;
KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has detained two foreign vessels for illegally transferring 200,000 litres of oil off the coast of Pengerang here.
Its Tanjung Sedili enforcement chief Abdul Hadib Abd Wahab said the case proved that the area was still a hot spot for illegal oil transfer activities.
“Many agencies are working hard to try and clear up the oil spill following the collision of two vessels at the Singapore Strait here last Monday. Activities like this will only worsen the situation.”
He said the two vessels from Sierra Leone and Hong Kong were spotted at around 1.15pm about 2.1 nautical miles off Tanjung Ayam yesterday.
They were found transferring 200,000 litres of Marine Fuel Oil without proper permits.
“We have since confiscated the identification documents of the 33 crew members on board both the vessels,” he said, adding that the crewmen were between 22 and 64 years old.
Abdul Hadib added that 23 crewmen were from China while the other 10 were from Indonesia.
33 held over transfer of fuel
New Straits Times 31 May 10;
JOHOR BARU: Pengerang waters still remain a hot spot for illegal ship-to-ship activity even though security has been beefed up in the area.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers detained 33 crew members aged between 22 and 63, from two foreign-registered ships, after they were suspected to have transferred fuel from one ship to the other 2.1 nautical miles southwest off Tanjung Ayam yesterday.
During a routine patrol, KM Manjung, headed by Tanjung Sedili district commander Abdul Hadib Wahab, spotted MT Austin II and SC Dalian anchored close to one another about 1pm.
Investigations revealed that 200,000 litres of marine fuel was being transferred illegally from the Sierra Leone-registered vessel MT Austin II to SC Dalian which was registered in Hong Kong.
Both boat captains, however, were unable to provide valid documentation to conduct ship-to-ship fuel transfers.
