A VLCC operated by US-sanctioned Chinese owner Kunlun Shipping is being sought by the Malaysian government for alleged illegal anchoring in its waters.
The Manifold Times cited the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) as saying the 291,000-dwt Silvana III (the former Ma Tian Zuo, built 1998) is wanted for non-compliance.
The tanker was spotted by a Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone patrol on 5 December, 39.5 nautical miles west of Kuala Kurau.
It did not lower the gangway to allow MMEA officers to board for a vessel inspection, and subsequently left the anchorage, MMEA said.
MMEA said it did not have permission to anchor in the area.
Kuala Kurau maritime zone director Mohd Sharenliza bin Ghazali has asked for help from the Perak and Penang maritime authorities to locate and detain the ship if found, the report said.
Alleged Iranian links
A police report has been made on the grounds of "unauthorised offences" under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
The last AIS update shows the ship on 5 December in the Malacca Strait heading to Singapore.
Equasis lists Kunlun Shipping as the manager, with Pegasus 88 as the owner.
The Shanghai-based company, Hong Kong affiliate Kunlun Holdings and director Xu Bin were sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury in September for carrying Iranian crude oil and gas.
Tian Ma Zuo was connected to shipments of Iranian crude.
It was identified by Tanker Trackers and the Financial Times as being involved in an STS transfer of the illicit oil over the summer.
