ID :
17453
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 10:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17453
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MMEA TO TAKE STRINGENT MEASURES TO STOP VESSELS EVADING PORT CLEARANCE
MIRI (Malaysia), Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)will be taking stringent measures to ensure that all vessels plying within the offshore waters here go through port clearance.
Miri maritime enforcement chief Maritime Captain Ismaili Bujang Pit said the move was to ensure that the maritime area here remained safe and to curb illegal activities.
The agency had received information on vessels berthing offshore without informing the authorities concerned, he told a news conference after a dialogue with the maritime community here Friday.
The measures involved intensifying inspections on merchant vessels within
the MMEA's jurisdiction to ensure that they had obtained the necessary
clearance.
He said that there were provisions under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance
that empowered the agency to detain any vessel that had been suspected to
violate the clearance regulation.
However, the agency would not be drastic in enforcing the measures and its
first step was to hold another dialogue with the shipping agents and companies
here to explain about the requirements.
Meanwhile, MMEA Sarawak maritime region operations director Maritime
Captain
Ang Cheng Hwa said that a total of 58 vessels comprising 44 local boats and 14
foreign ships were caught for encroachment and other offences in Sarawak waters
so far this year.
Two of the cases involving foreign ships were for illegal loading of
subsidised diesel of about 100,000 litres and transport of controlled items. The
cases had been referred to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for
further action.
A total of 60 participants comprising members of local fishermen
associations and shipping companies, agents' representatives and officers from
several government departments and agencies attended the dialogue.
-- BERNAMA
Miri maritime enforcement chief Maritime Captain Ismaili Bujang Pit said the move was to ensure that the maritime area here remained safe and to curb illegal activities.
The agency had received information on vessels berthing offshore without informing the authorities concerned, he told a news conference after a dialogue with the maritime community here Friday.
The measures involved intensifying inspections on merchant vessels within
the MMEA's jurisdiction to ensure that they had obtained the necessary
clearance.
He said that there were provisions under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance
that empowered the agency to detain any vessel that had been suspected to
violate the clearance regulation.
However, the agency would not be drastic in enforcing the measures and its
first step was to hold another dialogue with the shipping agents and companies
here to explain about the requirements.
Meanwhile, MMEA Sarawak maritime region operations director Maritime
Captain
Ang Cheng Hwa said that a total of 58 vessels comprising 44 local boats and 14
foreign ships were caught for encroachment and other offences in Sarawak waters
so far this year.
Two of the cases involving foreign ships were for illegal loading of
subsidised diesel of about 100,000 litres and transport of controlled items. The
cases had been referred to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for
further action.
A total of 60 participants comprising members of local fishermen
associations and shipping companies, agents' representatives and officers from
several government departments and agencies attended the dialogue.
-- BERNAMA
