KUALA LUMPUR • The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two foreign-registered vessels over the weekend on suspicion of illegal fuel transfers.

A Singapore-registered ship was transferring about 45.5 tonnes of marine gas oil to a China-registered vessel, said Tanjung Sedili maritime enforcement chief Amran Daud.

"The MT Chelsea II, registered in Singapore, was transferring 45.543 tonnes of marine gas oil to the Shidao, China-registered MV Lu Rong Yuan Yu 978," Mr Amran was quoted as saying by state news media Bernama in a statement released yesterday. He said eight crew members, comprising Indonesian, Myanmar and Singapore nationals, were on board the MT Chelsea II, while the MV Lu Rong Yuan Yu 978 was carrying 17 crew members comprising Chinese nationals.

Investigations showed the vessels did not have documents or permits required for ship-to-ship operations and failed to report their presence in Malaysian waters, Bernama said.

Yesterday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed to The Straits Times that the MT Chelsea II is a Singapore-registered vessel. An MPA spokesman said: "We are in touch with the owner and Malaysian authorities on the investigations and crew members detained."

BLOOMBERG