KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese salvage vessel MV Chuang Hong 68, previously involved in the unauthorised salvage of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse wreck sites last year, has been detained by Malaysian authorities once more.
In a statement, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), they intercepted the vessel some 14 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Hantu, Perak on Monday afternoon.
MMEA Perak director Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob said that the sand dredger, registered in Fuzhou, China, was discovered while anchored by the KD Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil RMN operations team.
"Following this information, an RMN combat boat and the Malaysian Maritime search team conducting operations in Perak waters were dispatched to the location and successfully detained the vessel.
"During the inspection, authorities found 60 yellow LPG cooking gas cylinders (14kg per unit) on board without valid documentation from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, with an estimated seizure value of RM9,000.
Further checks revealed that the dredger failed to present original ship documents, "Port Clearance", and had one crew member unlisted on the ship's crew manifest.
"The dredger was operated by a captain and assisted by 47 crew members comprising 20 Chinese nationals, 26 Bangladeshi nationals, and one local crew member, aged between 21 and 68 years old," Mohamad Shukri said.
The case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for failing to present original ship documents, Port Clearance, and not listing a crew member on the manifest, as well as the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for the undocumented cooking gas cylinders.
"All crew members and the vessel are detained for investigation and further action," he added.