The product tanker Takuzan was arrested on 160 nautical miles off Cape Ca Mau, Vietnam for illegal fuel trading. The vessel was bunkering Vietnamese fishing vessels in the area, but according to the local authorities without permission and no valid documents. The product tanker Takuzan was arrested together with all its Thai nationality crew members, who had no valid identity documents. The vessel will be towed to Vietnam were will be held further investigation for the fuel origin and seamen identification. The crew members did not reluctanced during the routine check and subsequent arrest.

According to Vietnamese officials statement, illegal bunkering in the region spread rapidly in last several months. The suspected fuel sourcing might be from piracy and hijacked product tankers in the region, but it is hard to determine its original. Due to lack of documentation, the pirates sold the fuel to illegal traders, who bunker the fishing vessels in South East Asia without permission and without paying any taxes.

The product tanker Takuzan (IMO: 7923081) has overall length of 45.10 m, moulded beam of 7.80 m and maximum draft of 3.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 520 DWt and the gross tonnage is 199 GRT. The product tanker was built in 1979 by Maeno Shipbuilding in their shipyard in Sanyo-Onoda, Japan.