Malaysia detains Chinese ship suspected of ransacking, illegally scavenging from British WWII graves

A Fuzhou-registered Chinese ship failed to present anchoring permits during a routine inspection in waters off Johor state, Malaysian authorities said

Authorities found scrap metal and cannon shells on board, believed to be scavenged from the wreck of a British warship sunk by Japanese torpedoes

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A photo released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Monday shows a China-registered bulk carrier ship detained by the MMEA for anchoring illegally in the waters of east Johor. Photo: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency via AP

Published: 3:35pm, 29 May 2023Updated: 10:56pm, 29 May 2023

Malaysia’s maritime authorities on Monday said cannon shells believed to be from World War II have been found on a China-registered bulk carrier ship detained at the weekend for anchoring in its waters without permission.

The discovery comes amid reports this month that scavengers have targeted two British World War II wrecks off the coast of Malaysia – the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse – which were sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1941, just three days after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.

Following reports of the illegal salvage activity, Britain’s National Museum of the Royal Navy last week said it was “distressed and concerned at the apparent vandalism for personal profit” of the two wrecks.

The British naval battle cruiser HMS Repulse (foreground) pictured in 1938. The ship was sunk by Japanese torpedoes off the coast of Malaysia in 1941. Photo: AP

The defence ministry condemned “desecration” of maritime military graves, the BBC said on Saturday.

A ship registered in Fuzhou, China, and carrying 32 crew failed to present anchoring permits during a routine inspection in waters off Malaysia’s southern Johor state on Sunday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said.

Authorities found scrap metal and cannon shells on the ship upon further checks. Pictures and a video released by the agency showed a barge carrier with a large crane and heaps of rusty metal on board. Known as pre-war steel, the material from the two warships is valuable and could be smelted for use in manufacturing of some scientific and medical equipment.

The shells could be linked to a separate seizure by police at a Johor jetty last week of multiple unexploded World War II-era artillery.