GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has detained a dredger, MV Jangka 1, for anchoring illegally off Pulau Bidan, a small island off the coast of Gurun district, Kedah.
A coast guard patrol boat spotted the dredger at 3pm on Thursday, Maritime First Admiral Kamaruszaman Abu Hassan said.
The captain of the dredger and his six crew members were all Indonesians, aged 23 to 47 years. The vessel had anchored without authorisation from the Marine Department, he said in a statement here.
Further investigations were being carried out to find out why the Jangka 1, registered in Kuching, Sarawak, was anchored here.
Kamaruszaman said the seven men were currently being detained to facilitate investigations while the ship was taken back to Penang Port for further action.
– BERNAMA