Asia/Pacific News
Singapore, China Registered Vessels Detained Over Illegal MGO Transfer
Two vessels Saturday were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) over an alleged illegal Marine Gas Oil (MGO) transfer, Malaysia's state news service reports.
The incident was said to have occurred about 2.2 nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Ayam.
"The MT Chelsea II, registered in Singapore, was transferring about 45.543 metric tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to the Shidao, China-registered MV Lu Rong Yuan Yu 978," the MMEA said in a statement Sunday.
"Both ships did not report their arrival in Malaysian waters and did not pay the light dues."
Three of the eight crew of Chelsea II, along with two of the 17 crew from Lu Rong Yuan Yu 978 were reported to have been taken to the Tanjung Sedili maritime office "to assist in investigations."
Earlier in the month the MMEA said it thwarted what could have been the largest bunker robbery of the year, in an incident involving MT Almi Spirit and its cargo of 90,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel oil, worth about $23 million.
