A CHINESE vessel pillaging World War 2-era shipwrecks in the region was detained by Malaysian authorities on Sunday.

It is believed that the Chinese vessel has looted 90% of the war-time shipwrecks in Southeast Asian waters.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers who boarded the barge discovered metals and armaments believed to be scavenged from sunken British ships, including the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales that sank in Malaysian waters in 1941.

The barge was illegally anchored near Tanjung Siang, off the coast of Johor.

Johor MMEA director Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the authorities were investigating whether there was a “mothership” anchored off Malaysian waters.

“We are studying the possibility that the vessel may have gone back and forth to a mothership to offload the stolen items. This is a distinct possibility.”

He said the vessel had a crew of 32, including Chinese, Bangladeshis and a Malaysian.

“Further checks led to the discovery of scrap metal and artillery shells that we believe are linked to the discovery of unexploded ordnance in Tanjung Belungkor on May 19.”

He said the vessel’s captain was taken into custody.

The case is filed under section 491B(1)(L) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or up to two years’ jail, or both, for the convicted offender. – May 30, 2023.