Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director-general (operations) Vice-Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said the tanker was detained off Dumai, Indonesia.
"The Indonesian authorities have informed us about the vessel's seizure and detention of the suspected pirates," he told local news agencies.
He said Indonesian authorities were still conducting investigations.
The Singapore-registered ‘Joaquim’ was loaded with 3,500 tonnes of crude oil worth RM2.8 mill ($700,000) when it was reported missing on Saturday night, while sailing from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia to Langkawi.
On Sunday, ‘Joaquim’ with 10 crew members was found 14 nautical miles east off Pulau Rapat, Indonesia after it was released by pirates. However, the cargo was missing.
Puzi said the tanker was taken to a location in Malaysia for repairs and MMEA had contacted the company, which owned the tanker to conduct investigations.
The Singapore-registered ‘Jaoquim’ had left Tanjung Pinang in Indonesia on 7th August.
It was reported that the 10-man crew was safe. The authorities believed that more than 10 people were involved in the robbery and hijacking of the ship.
The initial investigation showed the vessel's AIS had not been transmitting since 6th August and the authorities were investigating whether it had been deliberately switched off or had malfunctioned.
In the wake of the latest hijacking, PVI, part of Protection Group International, has warned that high demand for illicit oil, together with a well-established black market, will continue to drive maritime attacks in Southeast Asia over the coming months.
As a result, small tanker owners face operational, financial and security threats. In the absence of a stronger law enforcement response, 2015 is set to see a record number of hijackings in the region.
The hijacking of the ‘Orkim Harmony’ in June was the most serious hijacking in the first seven months of 2015 in terms of its duration and the threat posed to crew, said PVI, which has been monitoring the escalating security situation in the region using the in-depth analytic tools utilised in its PGI Risk Portal.
The operational impact of this incident was more significant than usual, taking one of Orkim Ship Management’s 11 vessels out of operation for at least nine days. At average weighted earnings for tankers, this could represent up to $270,000 in losses. The incident was the second for the company in a week as the ‘Orkim Victory’ was also hijacked and emptied of 770 tonnes of oil cargo off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
PVI has advised owners and operators of vulnerable vessels, such as small tankers should:
· Practice anti-piracy training and procedures for crew.
· Ensure crew are proficient in standard watchtower procedures.
· Promptly implement evasive anti-piracy measures in the event of a suspicious approach.
According to data from the PGI Risk Portal, hijackings in Malaysian and Indonesian waters made up about 11% of total maritime incidents in the two countries between January and 10th August. Although the vast majority of piracy incidents in the region remain small scale robberies of anchored vessels, the rise in hijackings in the past 18 months signified an important trend.