Malaysia Seizes MSC Container Ship for Unauthorized Anchorage

In a recent enforcement operation, Malaysia Maritime detained an MSC containership after it allegedly anchored without proper authorization. The captain and second engineer were taken ashore for questioning, facing potential penalties that could include fines up to $23,000 or even two years behind bars.

The situation unfolded on May 16 when the Area Control Center flagged a vessel they deemed “suspicious.” By 9:20 AM local time,authorities began tracking its movements and noted it was stationary by around 1:20 PM.

A maritime patrol boat was dispatched to check things out and found the containership anchored roughly 22.5 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan, a town north of Kuala Lumpur along Malaysia’s west coast in the Malacca Strait.

The Malaysian authorities shared an image of the ship but kept its name under wraps. However, it bore MSC markings consistent with the MSC Olia, a Liberian-registered vessel weighing in at 48,186 dwt. This ship has a capacity for 3,760 TEU and was reportedly en route from Jakarta to Singapore on May 17. Built in 2007 and owned by MSC since acquiring it from Bernhard Schulte in 2021, this vessel is no stranger to international waters.

The inspection team boarded the ship and reviewed crew documentation. They found that all 23 crew members hailed from various countries and had valid identification papers.

However, they discovered that the captain—a Russian national aged 44—had not provided any anchoring permission documents.Consequently, both he and the second engineer were taken to Selangor state Maritime headquarters for further questioning.

This incident highlights Malaysia’s strict maritime regulations; similar actions have been taken against vessels across Southeast Asia due to security concerns in these waters known for illegal oil transfers involving Iranian shipments. In fact, reports indicate an uptick in robberies within both Malacca and Singapore Straits as recently as last year.Interestingly enough, Indonesian officials had previously denied media claims suggesting their navy solicited bribes from detained ships accused of illegal anchoring—a reminder of how complex maritime law enforcement can be across different nations.

No additional facts has been released by Malaysia Maritime at this time; however, tracking data indicates that the vessel is currently docked at Port Klang.