KUANTAN: A coal-laden barge and its accompanying tugboat were detained for encroaching into the marine park, approximately 0.2 nautical miles off Tanjung Duata near Pulau Tioman, Rompin, on Feb 13.
Ten crew members including the Indonesian skipper have been arrested for possessing dubious identification documents.
Pahang's Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Maritime Admiral Kamal Ariffin Jusoh said the agency's patrol vessel which was conducting special operations, codenamed Op Tiris and Op Makmur, near Pulau Tioman, had spotted the questionable vessels.
"The barge and tugboat were spotted berthing within the perimeters of the marine park. The tugboat was registered as TB LL Armaini while the barge BG LL 3022 was carrying some 7.4 metric tonnes of coal.
"The tugboat crew members could not provide any documents that they had secured approval to berth at the location and had allegedly trespassed into the protected area.
"Ten crew members on the tugboat aged between 19 and 51 years old could not provide proper identification documents," he said in a statement today.
Kamal Ariffin said the vessels are being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for berthing without permission and the Fisheries Act 1985 for allegedly trespassing into a marine park.
He cautioned vessel owners, operators, and skippers to strictly comply with rules and regulations while at sea, emphasising that any violations will result in severe actions from the MMEA.
Kamal Ariffin also urged those with information on illegal activities at sea to inform the Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS 999) or Pahang Maritime Operating Centre at 09-5717345.