MSC Container Ship Detained For Anchoring Without Permission In Malacca Strait

A container ship operated by MSC and registered in Liberia has been detained by Malaysian authorities after it was found anchored without permission in the country’s waters.

The incident took place on the afternoon of May 16, around 22.5 nautical miles southwest of Sekinchan, a coastal town north of Kuala Lumpur along the busy Malacca Strait.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), through the Klang Area Control Centre (SWASLA), first noticed the vessel’s unusual activity at approximately 9:20 a.m. local time.

The ship remained stationary until around 1:20 p.m., prompting officials to dispatch a maritime patrol boat to the location.

When enforcement officers arrived, they found that the vessel had anchored without seeking or receiving prior approval from the Malaysian Marine Department’s Director-General.

A check with the Central Region Maritime Department confirmed that no anchoring request had been submitted.

Officials boarded the ship and inspected crew documents. They reported that there were 23 crew members on board, all from various countries and aged between 32 and 50. All of them had complete and valid identification papers.

However, the captain of the ship, a 44-year-old Russian national, was unable to present any documents related to anchoring permission. Along with the second engineer, he was taken ashore to the Selangor State Maritime Headquarters for further investigation.

The vessel was later identified based on visual details released by authorities, who had published a photo of the ship but blurred out its name. The image showed clear MSC markings, and the vessel matched the description of MSC Olia, a container ship with a capacity of 3,760 TEUs and a deadweight of 48,186 tons. Built in 2007, the ship has been operated by MSC since 2021 after being acquired from Bernhard Schulte.

According to the MSC shipping schedule, the vessel was travelling from Jakarta and was scheduled to arrive in Singapore on May 17. After the enforcement action, the ship is currently docked at Port Klang, based on its AIS tracking data.

Authorities confirmed that the ship violated the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO 1952) by anchoring in Malaysian waters without permission.

If found guilty, those involved may face a fine of up to RM100,000 (approximately USD 23,000), a prison sentence of up to two years, or both penalties.

Malaysian officials stated that the region has seen frequent enforcement actions for similar offences, as maritime security remains a key concern, especially in areas prone to unauthorised ship-to-ship transfers, including illegal oil trades.

The Malacca and Singapore Straits have also witnessed an increase in sea robbery cases in 2025.

The MMEA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening law enforcement and monitoring in Malaysian waters, particularly in Selangor. They also encouraged the public to report any suspicious or emergency activities at sea via the 999 emergency line or by contacting either the Selangor State Maritime Operations Centre at 013-6606652 or the National Maritime Operations Centre at 03-89957820.

Reference: MMEA

Source: Maritime Shipping News