The Malaysian Marine Department said the incident involving Malaysian ship Polaris and bulk carrier Piraeus happened on Malaysian territorial waters.

The department’s director-general Baharin Abdul Hamid told Bernama that Polaris was tasked with ensuring the safety of all vessels plying the waters off the Johor Bahru Port.

“The incident took place within the territorial waters of Johor Bahru Port. The question of encroaching into Singapore waters does not arise,” he was quoted as saying.

Following the collision this afternoon, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was concerned over the “presence of unauthorised vessels in Singapore Port Limits”, adding that it was also a threat to “navigational safety in our waters”.

The latest incident comes a month after the Singapore government protested a visit by Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian to a Malaysian government vessel, which it said had been “anchored illegally” in the waters off Tuas.

The republic later called off a Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) meeting, saying Osman’s action was “provocative”.

In October last year, Singapore accused Malaysian ships of encroaching into its waters off Tuas after Malaysia extended the Johor Bahru port limits.

In a tit-for-tat move, the city-state announced it was extending the Singapore Port Limits off Tuas, saying it was well within its territorial waters.

Meanwhile, Wisma Putra confirmed that the Greek vessel and its crew had been detained by the Marine Department under Section 334(1) of the Malaysian Shipping Ordinance 1952.

It said the vessel was first sighted entering Johor Bahru Port Limits at 2.15pm.

“During communication with Polaris, Piraeus responded that it will steer clear of Polaris. Despite the clear communication and definitive instructions given, the collision happened on first contact until both vessels were cleared of each other at 1436hrs,” it said as quoted by Bernama.