Cargo ship carrying cannon shells detained in Tanjung Siang

KOTA TINGGI - The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a cargo ship that was anchored without authorisation and believed to be carrying cannon shells at 20.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Siang in the Tanjung Sedili maritime zone here yesterday.

Johor maritime director First Adr (Maritime) Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the Fuzhou, China registered ship was detained after failing to produce any anchor clearance from the Malaysian Marine Director when it was inspected by a patrol boat at 12.45 pm.

The ship was manned by a crew of 32 male individuals, 21 China nationals, 10 Bangladeshi and a local, all between 23 to 57.

"Further inspections led to the discover of old steel and cannon shells suspected to be linked to an unexploded ordnance case in Tanjung Belungkor here on May 19,” he said in a statement here today, adding that they would work with the police, the Malaysian Marine Department and the National Heritage Department to identify if the cannon shells were from World War II.

He said that the case was being investigated under Section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and that the agency would continue to ensure that the country’s waters were free of illegal activity.

Media outlets have recently reported that a foreign salvage ship was conducting an illegal operation to salvage steel from a British warship that sank in Kuantan waters. - BERNAMA