KUALA LUMPUR (July 25): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA/Maritime Malaysia) has detained a dredger operating on the west coast of the peninsula, after receiving complaints from the maritime community.

In a report on Wednesday (July 24), industry magazine The Maritime Executive said the vessel, along with a crew of 11 foreigners, has been taken to port for further investigation.

The unnamed vessel was operating in the waters off Pulau Ketam, one of a series of islands near Port Klang on the Malacca Strait.

After receiving complaints about the vessel’s operations, MMEA had been monitoring the vessel’s activities for a few days.

The vessel was apparently actively conducting seabed sand drilling and sucking up the precious material.

Patrol boats were later sent to inspect the vessel, which was located approximately 11.5 nautical miles southwest of Ketam.

Boarding the ship, the authorities reported that they found it was being operated by a 30-year-old Indonesian sailor, along with two Indonesian crew and eight additional Chinese crewmembers.

All crewmembers failed to present valid identification.

A further inspection also showed that the vessel could not present a licence to operate.

The vessel, which had 2,200 cubic metres of sand aboard, along with the 11 crew members, was taken to the Pulau Indah Marine Police Force pier.

They were then handed over to MMEA for further investigation.

The authorities are reporting that the vessel will be charged with conducting seabed sand drilling activities without a licence.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/720301