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.
The shells could be linked to a separate seizure by police at a Johor jetty last week of multiple unexploded World War Two-era artillery.
Authorities believe those may have been scavenged from the HMS Prince of Wales, the MMEA said, adding it was working with Malaysia’s National Heritage Department and other agencies to identify the ammunition found.