Malaysian Authorities Detain Crew of Tanker Krishna 1

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has reported that the crew of the crude oil tanker Krishna 1 has been detained by Malaysian officials for allegedly entering national waters without the necessary documentation.

The vessel’s 20 crewmembers—comprising 11 Indians, 8 Filipinos, and 1 Indonesian—were taken into custody on April 11 after disembarking at East OPL Malaysia (EOPL).

Although a local shipping agent attempted to intervene, the Malaysian Army later transferred the crew to the district police. They are currently being held under Section 6(1)(c) of Malaysia’s Immigration Act, which pertains to unlawful entry.

Authorities are now awaiting a full report from the Immigration Department, which is expected by April 17.

Embassies for each of the seafarers’ home countries have been informed of the situation. The ITF has confirmed it is keeping a close watch on the case to ensure that the crew's rights and welfare are protected.

The Krishna 1, a crude oil tanker built in 2004 and registered under the flag of Guyana, has a capacity of 150,581 tonnes. The vessel measures 274 meters in length and 48.04 meters in width.