MSC Cargo Vessel Held for Unauthorized Anchorage in Malacca Strait

Image Credits: MMEA/Facebook

A container ship, managed by MSC and flagged in Liberia, has been detained by Malaysian authorities after it was discovered anchored without authorization in local waters.

This incident unfolded on May 16, about 22.5 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan, a coastal town situated north of Kuala Lumpur along the bustling Malacca Strait.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) first detected the vessel’s odd behavior around 9:20 a.m.local time. The ship remained stationary until approximately 1:20 p.m., which prompted officials to send out a maritime patrol boat for further inquiry.

Upon arrival, enforcement officers found that the vessel had dropped anchor without prior approval from the Director-General of the Malaysian Marine Department. A quick check with the Central Region Maritime Department confirmed that no anchoring request had been filed.

Officials boarded to inspect crew documentation and found 23 crew members aboard from various countries,aged between 32 and 50 years old—all possessing valid identification papers. However, when questioned about anchoring permissions, the captain—a Russian national aged 44—could not provide any relevant documents. He and his second engineer where taken to shore at Selangor state Maritime Headquarters for further questioning.

Image Credits: MMEA/Facebook

Authorities later identified the ship based on visual details shared publicly; although its name was blurred out in images released by officials, clear MSC markings were visible. The vessel matched descriptions of MSC Olia—a container ship built in 2007 with a capacity for carrying up to 3,760 TEUs and weighing in at around 48,186 tons—operated by MSC as its acquisition from Bernhard Schulte in 2021.

According to shipping schedules from MSC, this vessel was en route from Jakarta with plans to reach Singapore on May 17 but is now docked at Port Klang following enforcement actions as indicated by AIS tracking data.

malaysian authorities have stated that this incident constitutes a violation of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) of 1952 due to unauthorized anchoring within thier waters. If convicted under these regulations, those responsible could face fines reaching RM100,000 (around USD $23K), imprisonment for up to two years—or both penalties combined.

Officials noted an uptick in similar enforcement actions recently as maritime security remains critical—especially given concerns over unauthorized ship-to-ship transfers linked with illegal oil trading activities prevalent in these waters.Actually, incidents involving sea robbery have surged across both Malacca and Singapore Straits this year alone!

The MMEA reiterated its dedication to enhancing law enforcement efforts within Malaysian waters—particularly around Selangor—and urged citizens to report any suspicious or emergency situations they encounter at sea via Malaysia’s emergency hotline or directly contact either selangor State Maritime Operations Centre or National Maritime Operations centre numbers provided above.

Reference: MMEA