KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian vessel Polaris and a Greece-registered bulk carrier Piraeus grazed each other within the Malaysian territorial waters and not Singapore, said Marine Department Director-General Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid.
Clarifying a news report on the 2.28pm incident, he said the Polaris was at the area as it has been tasked to monitor the safety of vessels navigating the waters around Johor Baru Port.
"It’s within Johor Baru Port limit. So, no question of unauthorised entry into Singapore waters. We engage Polaris to monitor the safety of navigation within the area. It’s our port,” he told Bernama.
Singapore Maritime and Port Authority in a statement this evening however claimed the 'collision' occurred in Singapore territorial waters within Singapore Port Limits off Tuas.
The port authority had expressed deep concern that the presence of unauthorised vessels in Singapore port limits could cause confusion for the international shipping community and threaten navigational safety in their waters.
Asked further on the fate of Polaris and its crew, Baharin said all the 23 crew members onboard the vessel were safe and did not sustain any injury.
"There is no serious damage to the ship, there is no rupture for the water to seep in. The incident also did not cause any threat of pollution,” he said.
Currently, he said an investigation team was already set up and began their probe on both vessels.
"They are already onboard both vessels. We will be carrying out a survey of the vessels for us to establish the actual damage. Once we have assessed, only then can we decide on the next course of action," he added.
Baharin said the Polaris, a multi-purpose buoy tender vessel owned by the Marine Department, remained at the location while the Piraeus has sailed to Tanjung Bin jetty awaiting for ship clearance from the department.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a statement confirmed that the Greek vessel and its crew had been detained by the Marine Department for purposes of a preliminary inquiry as per Section 334(1) of the Malaysian Shipping Ordinance 1952.
Explaining the incident, the ministry noted that the Greek vessel was first sighted entering Johor Bahru Port Limits in Malaysian Territorial Waters at 1415hrs.
"During communication with Polaris, Piraeus responded that it will steer clear of Polaris. Despite the clear communication and definitive instructions given, the collision happened on first contact until both vessels were cleared of each other at 1436hrs," it said.
Wisma Putra said the incident, however, did not hamper any traffic flow and was away from the Traffic Separation Scheme area.
"The Marine Department strongly advises ships in Johor Bahru Port Limits located in Malaysian Territorial Waters to exercise caution to avoid untoward incidents in the said waters,” it said,
The ministry also expressed their commitment to take appropriate measures to safeguard Malaysian territorial integrity, interests and safe navigation of all vessels. -- Bernama