Working Conditions Aboard the Cougar-Satu

On September 4, 2018, the tanker 'Eastern Glory', laden with 5,000 tonnes of diesel oil, was intercepted by Indonesian naval units near Batam Island in the Singapore Strait due to suspected involvement in illegal transshipment activities. The vessel, which was initially bound for Tanjung Pelepas from Batam, was found lingering in Indonesian waters, raising suspicions of illicit trading practices. When the vessel was apprehended on September 5, it was discovered that the 'Eastern Glory' lacked both the necessary import documents and a valid sailing permit. The tanker had previously positioned near the Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border for over 10 hours, where it was reportedly loaded with undocumented fuel from another vessel, the 'Cougar'. During this transfer, four Vietnamese and four Bangladeshi crew members were shifted from the 'Cougar' to the 'Eastern Glory'. Despite attempts to halt the 'Cougar', it managed to escape and head back towards Singapore. The captain of the 'Eastern Glory', Suheri Nanda Pasaribu, along with his crew, is currently in custody as investigations proceed. They are facing legal action under Indonesian regulations concerning oil and gas trade and maritime transport. For more details, view the full report [here](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-detains-vessel-for-smuggling-fuel-from-singapore).