JOHOR BAHARU, 17 MARCH, 2010: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) air unit failed an illegal oil siphoning by two tankers in Pengerang waters, near Kota Tinggi yesterday.

altTanjung Sedili Maritime enforcement chief, Commander Abdul Hadib Abd Wahad, said the illegal activity by the tankers, MT Sakthi and MT Napa 1, was detected by the agency's air unit at 2.5 nautical miles south-east of Tanjung Stapa, about 11.40am.

"The oil hose of both tankers were connected to one another, believed to be used to siphon oil from one of the tanker to another, when the MMEA Dauphin helicopter approached them," he said in a statement here today.

Abdul Hadib said a MMEA patrol boat which was in the vicinity went to the scene when alerted of the matter.

Checks found that the MT Sakthi was siphoning 30,000 litres of marine fuel oil to MT Napa 1 without approval, he added.

He said the Panama registered MT Napa 1 and MT Sakhti, which was registered at Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, belonged to a company based in Singapore.

The captains and engineers, as well 30 crew on board the tankers, were brought to the MMEA office here for further action, he added.

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