KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — The tanker MT Pratama 128 that was missing since Sunday has been found off the coast of Pulau Rupat by the Indonesian navy.
Berita Harian reported Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abu Bakar as saying initial investigations have determined that the ship was being operated by its crew.
“The ship was located at the border of Tanjung Piai harbour (in Pulau Rupat) and was monitored by radar and patrol vessels. We believe the ship’s crew may have tried to take advantage when the patrol vessels returned to the jetty,” he said, adding neither robbery nor piracy have been discovered to be a factor in its disappearance.
“MMEA’s cooperation with the Indonesian navy led to finding the vessel, and we are now negotiating to bring it back. We will also continue working with the Indonesian navy in determining why the tanker attempted to flee,” Zulkifli said.
The tanker is being detained by MMEA under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
