BINTULU: A tugboat and barge laden with 2,499 metric tonnes of palm oil worth more than RM14 million, reported missing for 20 hours, were found in Bintulu waters yesterday.
The two vessels were found by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) search and rescue (SAR) team about 30 nautical miles off the Bintulu Port at 3.25pm.
All 10 crew members including the boat's captain was also found safe but traumatised after they were intercepted and robbed by a group of men, believed to be pirates.
Bintulu district MMEA director Captain Maritime Aminuddin Abdul Rashid said the vessels, which were headed to Port Klang in Selangor, had departed from Lahad Datu, Sabah on Oct 20.
"The vessels were intercepted by a group of individuals on two boats upon entering the waters here at 8.30pm on Tuesday.
"According to the captain and crew, several belongings and an undisclosed amount of cash were carted away by the robbers, who were armed with parang" he said in a statement today.
The palm oil cargo however, was spared during the incident.
He said the MMEA had initiated the SAR mission following a report lodged by the company, which owned the two vessels.
It was learnt that since the vessels departed from Sabah, the captain would file a report twice daily to the company.
The company realised something was amiss when they could not reach the captain, triggering fears that something was wrong with the shipment.
The company's fear worsened upon receiving information that the tugboat and barge had separated from each other.
Aminuddin said both tugboat and barge together with its crew have brought to the Bintulu Port for investigation.
"We are still in the midst of ascertaining the losses involved from the robbery.
"MMEA views the incident seriously and will intensify patrols to monitor the safety within the Bintulu waters."