Chinese Ship Carrying Old Scrap Metal and Artillery Shell Detained

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a Fuzhou, China-registered vessel found to be carrying old scrap metal and artillery shell. The vessel was located at around 20.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Siang, off east Johar. The contents found in the ship are believed to be more than 80 years old, said MMEA in a statement.

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According to the statement, the Tanjung Sedili maritime zone patrol team had detained the ship for illegal anchoring. Upon inspection, it was found that the ship had no anchoring permission from the Marine Department director-general. The crew comprised of 21 Chinese nationals, 10 Bangladeshi nationals and one Malaysian.

Johor Maritime Director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said that MMEA would work in coordination with the police, the Marine and the National Heritage departments to identify the artillery shells. The possibility that the vessel may have gone back and forth to a mothership to offload the stolen items is being investigated, he added.

The investigations are being carried out under Section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. The section has the power to impose a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years or both.