Malaysia Holds Chinese Dredger Linked to WWII Shipwreck Looting

via USNI news, 04 July 2024: Malaysian authorities have detained the Chinese dredger MV Chuan Hong 68, suspected of illegally salvaging WWII Royal Navy shipwrecks for valuable metals. The vessel and crew face charges related to paperwork violations, including unregistered LPG containers. Investigations are ongoing into how the ship, with a history of illegal activities, was allowed to operate in Malaysian waters.

Kuala Lampur’s New Straits Times reported Malaysian investigators are looking into why and by what means Chuan Hong 68 was issued permits to carry out salvage operations on MV Armada in February and a wreck identified as “Maritime Fidelity” in September last year, both off Johor.

The dredger’s suspected plundering of the two warships for its steel, aluminum and brass fittings took place in May 2023. Since these metals were produced before nuclear weapons’ use and testing they are considered of great value in highly specialized manufacturing.

During the May 2023 boarding of the Chuan Hong 68, inspectors found rusting artillery shells and other scrap that likely came from the two warships. Shortly after that boarding, Malaysian authorities confiscated two cannons, more ordnance and other objects in a junkyard that also likely came from sunken warships.

Source: Chinese Ship Suspected of Raiding World War II Wrecks Detained