Two shipowners fined $54,000

Two shipowners fined $54,000

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The owners of two Singapore tankers were fined a total of US$54,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to charges of polluting Malaysian waters, the Bernama news agency reported.

The sessions court in Malaysia's southern Johore state imposed fines of 65,000 ringgit ($26,000) on Xin Hui Shipping Private Ltd. of Singapore -- the owner of MV Solo -- and 70,000 ringgit ($28,000) on Dong Sheng Tankers Private Ltd. which owns SS Song San.

The owners pleaded guilty and paid the fines for an incident on Jan. 25 which had sparked controversy after Malaysia accused Singapore of inaction in helping trace Song San, which bolted after being detained.

The two tankers were among 12 vessels detained by Johore marine authorities.

Song San and Solo, along with a third Singapore tanker, Redwood, were held on suspicion of polluting Malaysian waters. The owners of Redwood were expected to be charged at a later date.