MERSING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a Singapore-registered tugboat and barge for unauthorised anchoring 3.5 nautical miles west of Pulau Harimau here today.
Mersing maritime zone director commander Suhaizan Saadin said the vessels were spotted by enforcement officers during a routine patrol at 11am.
The vessels violated maritime regulations by failing to report their arrival and had anchored in Malaysian waters without prior approval.
Suhaizan said there seven crew members include included the skipper and the chief engineer.
All were Indonesian men, aged between 25 and 54.
The skipper and chief engineer were taken to the MMEA jetty here for questioning under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
Suhaizan said MMEA maintains a strict no-compromise stance on unlawful activities in Malaysian waters.